kite definition | Dictionary.com

kite

1 [kahyt]

noun, verb, kit⋅ed, kit⋅ing.

–noun

1.	a light frame covered with some thin material, to be flown in the wind at the end of a long string.

2.	any of several small birds of the hawk family Accipitridae that have long, pointed wings, feed on insects, carrion, reptiles, rodents, and birds, and are noted for their graceful, gliding flight. Compare black kite, swallow-tailed kite, white-tailed kite.

3.	Nautical. flying kite.

Finance.

a.	a check drawn against uncollected or insufficient funds, as for redepositing, with the intention of creating a false balance in the account by taking advantage of the time lapse required for collection.

b.	a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.

5.	a person who preys on others; sharper.

–verb (used without object)

6.	Informal. to fly or move with a rapid or easy motion like that of a kite.

7.	to obtain money or credit through kites.

–verb (used with object)

8.	to employ (a check or the like) as a kite; to cash or pass (a kite, forged check, etc.).

Origin:
bef. 900 for def. 2; 1655–65 for def. 1; ME kyte, OE cȳta kite, bittern; akin to G Kauz owl

Related forms:

kiter, noun

kitelike, adjective

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kite

2 [kahyt]

–noun Scot. and North England.

kyte.

flying kite

–noun Nautical.

1.	any of various sails set above the royals or skysails in light weather; jolly jumper.

2.	any of various light upper staysails, studdingsails, or jibs.

3.	(in yachting) any of various racing sails, as spinnakers or balloon jibs.

Also called kite.

Origin:
1810–20

kyte

[kahyt]

–noun Scot. and North England.

the paunch; stomach; belly.

Also, kite.

Origin:
1530–40; perh. < Scand; cf. Icel kȳta stomach of the blenny

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To kite

kite (kīt)

A light framework covered with cloth, plastic, or paper, designed to be flown in the wind at the end of a long string.
Any of the light sails of a ship that are used only in a light wind.
Any of various predatory birds of the hawk family Accipitridae, having a long, often forked tail and long pointed wings.
1. A piece of negotiable paper representing a fictitious financial transaction and used temporarily to sustain credit or raise money.
2. A bank check drawn on insufficient funds to take advantage of the time interval required for collection.
3. A bank check that has been fraudulently altered to show a larger amount.

v. kit·ed, kit·ing, kites

v. intr.

To fly like a kite; soar or glide.
To get money or credit with a kite.

v. tr.

To use (a bad check) to sustain credit or raise money.
To increase the amount of (a check) fraudulently.

[Middle English, bird of prey, from Old English cȳta.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Kite

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.

Kite

Kite\, v. i. To raise money by "kites;" as, kiting transactions. See Kite, 6. [Cant]

Kite

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

Kite

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.

Language Translation for : kite

Spanish: cometa,

German: der Drachen,

Japanese: たこ

More Translations »

kite

bird of prey (Milvus ictinus), O.E. cyta "kind of hawk," probably imitative of its cries (cf. ciegan "to call," Ger. Kauz "screech owl"). The toy kite first so-called 1664, from its way of hovering in the air like a bird. Meaning "write a fictitious check" (1839, Amer.Eng.) is from 1805 phrase fly a kite "raise money by issuing commercial paper on nonexistent funds." However, the dismissive invitation to go fly a kite is said to be a ref. to the bird, reflecting the contempt of it as a scavenger and eater of garbage.

Kite

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.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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kite

see go fly a kite; high as a kite.

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