buzzard

3 definitions found

buzzard - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Buzzard \Buz"zard\, a.
     Senseless; stupid. [R. & Obs.] --Milton.
     [1913 Webster]

  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.
        [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]

buzzard - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  buzzard
      n 1: a New World vulture that is common in South America and
           Central America and the southern United States [syn:
           buzzard, turkey buzzard, turkey vulture, Cathartes aura
           ]
      2: the common European short-winged hawk [syn: buzzard, Buteo   buteo
         ]