haliastur indus

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.(Zool.) 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. [1913 Webster]

Note: The European species are Milvus ictinus and Milvus migrans; the pariah kite of India is Milvus govinda; the sacred or Brahmany kite of India is Haliastur Indus; the American fork-tailed kite is the Nauclerus furcatus. [1913 Webster]

2.Fig.: One who is rapacious. [1913 Webster]

Detested kite, thou liest.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

4.(Naut.) A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light. [1913 Webster]

5.(Geom.) A quadrilateral, one of whose diagonals is an axis of symmetry. --Henrici. [1913 Webster]

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] [1913 Webster]

7.(Zool.) The brill. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]

8.(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. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Flying kites. (Naut.) See under Flying.

Kite falcon (Zool.), an African falcon of the genus Avicida, having some resemblance to a kite. [1913 Webster]