kite
pronunciation
How to pronounce kite in British English:
UK [kaɪt]
How to pronounce kite in American English:
US [kaɪt]
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- Noun:
- a bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value
- a bank check drawn on insufficient funds at another bank in order to take advantage of the float
- plaything consisting of a light frame covered with tissue paper; flown in wind at end of a string
- any of several small graceful hawks of the family Accipitridae having long pointed wings and feeding on insects and small animals
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- Verb:
- increase the amount (of a check) fraudulently
- get credit or money by using a bad check
- soar or fly like a kite
- fly a kite
Word Origin
- kite (n.)
- bird of prey (Milvus ictinus), Old English cyta "kind of hawk," probably imitative of its cries (compare ciegan "to call," German Kauz "screech owl"). The toy kite first so-called 1660s, from its way of hovering in the air like a bird. The dismissive invitation to go fly a kite is attested by 1942, American English, probably tracing to the popular song of the same name (lyrics by Johnny Burke), sung by Bing Crosby in "The Star Maker" (1939): Go fly a kite and tie your troubles to the tail They'll be blown away by a merry gale, Go fly a kite and toss your worries to the wind And they won't come back, they'll be too chagrined.
- kite (v.)
- "write a fictitious check," 1839, American English, from 1805 phrase fly a kite "raise money by issuing commercial paper on nonexistent funds;" see kite (n.). Related: Kited; kiting.
Example
- 1. Or fly your kite on the same hill ?
- 2. This one involved a key and a kite .
- 3. Even in a light breeze , a kite can travel surprisingly fast .
- 4. The kite flew high in the rainy sky , but nothing happened .
- 5. Flying a kite from the roof is part of everyday life in india .