Kite (kīt), n. [OE. kyte, AS. cȳta; cf. W. cud, cut.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any raptorial bird of the subfamily Milvinæ, of which many species are known. They have long wings, adapted for soaring, and usually a forked tail.
☞ The European species are Milvus ictinus and M. migrans; the pariah kite of India is 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.
7. (Zoöl.) The brill.
Flying kites. (Naut.) See under Flying. — Kite falcon(Zoöl.), an African falcon of the genus Avicida, having some resemblance to a kite.