1. [n]  any of several small graceful hawks of the family Accipitridae having long pointed wings and feeding on insects and small animals
2. [n]  plaything consisting of a light frame covered with tissue paper; flown in wind at end of a string

1. \Kite\, n. [OE. kyte, AS. c?ta; cf. W. cud, cut.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any raptorial bird of the subfamily
      {Milvin[ae]}, of which many species are known. They have
      long wings, adapted for soaring, and usually a forked
      tail.
   
   Note: The European species are {Milvus ictinus} and {M.
         govinda}; the sacred or Brahmany kite of India is
         {Haliastur Indus}; the American fork-tailed kite is the
         {Nauclerus furcatus}.
   
   2. Fig. : One who is rapacious.
   
            Detested kite, thou liest.            --Shak.
   
   3. A light frame of wood or other material covered with paper
      or cloth, for flying in the air at the end of a string.
   
   4. (Naut.) A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light.
   
   5. (Geom.) A quadrilateral, one of whose diagonals is an axis
      of symmetry. --Henrici.
   
   6. Fictitious commercial paper used for raising money or to
      sustain credit, as a check which represents no deposit in
      bank, or a bill of exchange not sanctioned by sale of
      goods; an accommodation check or bill. [Cant]
   
   7. (Zo["o]l.) The brill. [Prov. Eng. ]
   
   {Flying kites}. (Naut.) See under {Flying}.
   
   {Kite falcon} (Zo["o]l.), an African falcon of the genus
      {Avicida}, having some resemblance to a kite.
   
   

2. \Kite\, v. i.
   To raise money by ``kites;'' as, kiting transactions. See
   {Kite}, 6. [Cant]
   
   

3. \Kite\, n.
   The belly. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
   
   

4. \Kite\, n. (Naut.)
   A form of drag to be towed under water at any depth up to
   about forty fathoms, which on striking bottom is upset and
   rises to the surface; -- called also {sentry}.
   
   

an unclean and keen-sighted bird of prey (Lev. 11:14; Deut. 14:13). The Hebrew word used, _'ayet_, is rendered "vulture" in Job 28:7 in Authorized Version, "falcon" in Revised Version. It is probably the red kite (Milvus regalis), a bird of piercing sight and of soaring habits found all over Palestine.