The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Buzzard \Buz"zard\ (b[u^]z"z[~e]rd), n.[O.E. busard, bosard, F.
busard, fr. buse, L. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Zool.) A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to
the genus Buteo and related genera.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) In the United States, a term used for the turkey
vulture (Cathartes aura), and sometimes
indiscriminately to any vulture.
[PJC]
Note: The Buteo vulgaris is the common buzzard of Europe.
The American species (of which the most common are
Buteo borealis, Buteo Pennsylvanicus, and Buteo
lineatus) are usually called hen hawks. -- The
rough-legged buzzard, or bee hawk, of Europe (Pernis
apivorus) feeds on bees and their larv[ae], with other
insects, and reptiles. -- The moor buzzard of Europe is
Circus [ae]ruginosus. See Turkey buzzard, and
Carrion buzzard.
[1913 Webster]
Bald buzzard, the fishhawk or osprey. See Fishhawk.
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2. A blockhead; a dunce.
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It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not
be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a
buzzard. --Goldsmith.
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