资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Kite \Kite\, n. [OE. kyte, AS. c?ta; cf. W. cud, cut.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) 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.

   Note: The European species are {Milvus ictinus} and {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. (Zo["o]l.) The brill. [Prov. Eng. ]

   {Flying kites}. (Naut.) See under {Flying}.

   {Kite falcon} (Zo["o]l.), an African falcon of the genus
      {Avicida}, having some resemblance to a kite.



   {Flying army} (Mil.) a body of cavalry and infantry, kept in
      motion, to cover its own garrisons and to keep the enemy
      in continual alarm. --Farrow. 

   {Flying artillery} (Mil.), artillery trained to rapid
      evolutions, -- the men being either mounted or trained to
      spring upon the guns and caissons when they change
      position.

   {Flying bridge}, {Flying camp}. See under {Bridge}, and
      {Camp}.

   {Flying buttress} (Arch.), a contrivance for taking up the
      thrust of a roof or vault which can not be supported by
      ordinary buttresses. It consists of a straight bar of
      masonry, usually sloping, carried on an arch, and a solid
      pier or buttress sufficient to receive the thrust. The
      word is generally applied only to the straight bar with
      supporting arch.

   {Flying colors}, flags unfurled and waving in the air; hence:

   {To come off with flying colors}, to be victorious; to
      succeed thoroughly in an undertaking.

   {Flying doe} (Zo["o]l.), a young female kangaroo.

   {Flying dragon}.
   (a) (Zo["o]l.) See {Dragon}, 6.
   (b) A meteor. See under {Dragon}.

   {Flying Dutchman}.
   (a) A fabled Dutch mariner condemned for his crimes to sail
       the seas till the day of judgment.
   (b) A spectral ship.

   {Flying fish}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Flying fish}, in the
      Vocabulary.

   {Flying fox} (Zo["o]l.), the colugo.

   {Flying frog} (Zo["o]l.), an East Indian tree frog of the
      genus {Rhacophorus}, having very large and broadly webbed
      feet, which serve as parachutes, and enable it to make
      very long leaps.

   {Flying gurnard} (Zo["o]l.), a species of gurnard of the
      genus {Cephalacanthus} or {Dactylopterus}, with very large
      pectoral fins, said to be able to fly like the flying
      fish, but not for so great a distance.

   Note: Three species are known; that of the Atlantic is
         {Cephalacanthus volitans}.

   {Flying jib} (Naut.), a sail extended outside of the standing
      jib, on the flying-jib boom.

   {Flying-jib boom} (Naut.), an extension of the jib boom.

   {Flying kites} (Naut.), light sails carried only in fine
      weather.

   {Flying lemur}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Colugo}.

   {Flying level} (Civil Engin.), a reconnoissance level over
      the course of a projected road, canal, etc.

   {Flying lizard}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Dragon}, n. 6.

   {Flying machine}, an apparatus for navigating the air; a form
      of balloon. -- {Flying mouse} (Zo["o]l.), the opossum
      mouse ({Acrobates pygm[ae]us}), of Australia.

   Note: It has lateral folds of skin, like the flying
         squirrels. -- {Flying party} (Mil.), a body of soldiers
      detailed to hover about an enemy. -- {Flying phalanger}
      (Zo["o]l.), one of several species of small marsuupials of
      the genera {Petaurus} and {Belideus}, of Australia and New
      Guinea, having lateral folds like those of the flying
      squirrels. The sugar squirrel ({B. sciureus}), and the
      ariel ({B. ariel}), are the best known; -- called also
      {squirrel petaurus} and {flying squirrel}. See {Sugar
      squirrel}. -- {Flying pinion}, the fly of a clock. --
   {Flying sap} (Mil.), the rapid construction of trenches (when
      the enemy's fire of case shot precludes the method of
      simple trenching), by means of gabions placed in
      juxtaposition and filled with earth. -- {Flying shot}, a
      shot fired at a moving object, as a bird on the wing. --
   {Flying spider}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Ballooning spider}. --
   {Flying squid} (Zo["o]l.), an oceanic squid ({Ommastrephes,
      or Sthenoteuthis, Bartramii}), abundant in the Gulf
      Stream, which is able to leap out of the water with such
      force that it often falls on the deck of a vessel. --
   {Flying squirrel} (Zo["o]l.) See {Flying squirrel}, in the
      Vocabulary. -- {Flying start}, a start in a sailing race
      in which the signal is given while the vessels are under
      way. -- {Flying torch} (Mil.), a torch attached to a long
      staff and used for signaling at night.