Buzzard

Buzzard
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. (Zo["o]l.) A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to the genus {Buteo} and related genera. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) 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}. [1913 Webster]

2. A blockhead; a dunce. [1913 Webster]

It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a buzzard. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Buzzard — (« busard » ou « buse » en anglais) est un gisement pétrolier en mer du Nord situé près des côtes écossaises (seulement 100 km au nord est d Aberdeen)[1]. Sa découverte en juin 2001 par la compagnie canadienne EnCana fut une… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • buzzard — c.1300, from O.Fr. buisart buzzard, harrier, inferior hawk, from buson, buison, from L. buteonem, acc. of buteo a kind of hawk, perhaps with art suffix for one that carries on some action or possesses some quality, with derogatory connotation… …   Etymology dictionary

  • BUZZARD — (Heb. הָיַא, ayyah), bird of prey of which different species are found in Israel. The long legged buzzard (Buteo ferox) feeds on birds, mammals, and insects. It can see very far and is apparently the ayyah referred to in Job 28:7 (AV: vulture ),… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Buzzard — Buz zard, a. Senseless; stupid. [R. & Obs.] Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • buzzard — ► NOUN 1) a large bird of prey typically seen soaring in wide circles. 2) N. Amer. a vulture. ORIGIN Old French busard, from Latin buteo falcon …   English terms dictionary

  • buzzard — [buz′ərd] n. [ME busard < OFr busart < buson, buison (< L buteo, kind of hawk) + art, ARD] 1. any of various Old World hawks (esp. certain species of the genus Buteo) that are slow and heavy in flight ☆ 2. TURKEY VULTURE 3. a person… …   English World dictionary

  • Buzzard — A buzzard is one of several large birds, but there are a number of meanings as detailed below.In the Old WorldBuzzard can mean: * One of several medium sized, wide ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings.* In particular, those in the… …   Wikipedia

  • buzzard — buzzard1 buzzardlike, adj. buzzardly, adj., adv. /buz euhrd/, n. 1. any of several broad winged, soaring hawks of the genus Buteo and allied genera, esp. B. buteo, of Europe. 2. any of several New World vultures of the family Cathartidae, esp.… …   Universalium

  • buzzard — /ˈbʌzəd / (say buzuhd) noun 1. → black breasted buzzard. 2. → red goshawk. 3. any of various more or less heavily built hawks of the genus Buteo and allied genera, as the common buzzard, B. buteo, a widespread Northern Hemisphere bird which… …  

  • buzzard —    In Britain this is a name for a hawk; in the USA it describes various large birds of prey, including the vulture. Applied to a person by an American speaker, ‘buzzard’ describes a rapacious and contemptible individual, though a passing… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

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