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.

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

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. [Cant]

7. (Zoöl.) The brill. [Prov. Eng.]

Flying kites. (Naut.) See under Flying. -- Kite falcon(Zoöl.), an African falcon of the genus Avicida, having some resemblance to a kite.

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

-- Webster's unabridged 1913