buzzard

¹

[ buhz-erd ]

noun

1. any of several broad-winged, soaring hawks of the genus Buteo and allied genera, especially B. buteo, of Europe.
2. any of several New World vultures of the family Cathartidae, especially the turkey vulture.
3. Slang. a contemptible or cantankerous person (often preceded by old ):

   That old buzzard has lived in the same shack for twenty years.

adjective

1. Obsolete. senseless; stupid.

buzzard

²

[ buhz-erd ]

noun

, British Dialect.

1. any of various nocturnal buzzing insects, as cockchafers.

buzzard

/ ˈbʌzəd /

noun

1. any diurnal bird of prey of the genus Buteo , typically having broad wings and tail and a soaring flight: family Accipitridae (hawks, etc) Compare honey buzzard turkey buzzard
2. a mean or cantankerous person

Other Words From

• buzzard·like adjective
• buzzard·ly adjective adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of buzzard¹

1250–1300; Middle English busard < Old French, variant of buisard, equivalent to buis ( on ) buzzard (< Latin būteōn-, stem of būteō kind of hawk) + -ard -ard

Origin of buzzard²

First recorded in 1645–55; buzz + -ard

Word History and Origins

Origin of buzzard¹

C13: from Old French buisard , variant of buison buzzard, from Latin būteō hawk, falcon

Example Sentences

The sight of ravens, a bald eagle, or, in the warmer months, a buzzard, makes her grow tense.

From Time

To that end, last year Buzzard, Massot, and Johan Commelin of the University of Freiburg in Germany undertook an ambitious proof-of-concept project.

From Quanta Magazine

We can deal with that old buzzard as freely and as profitably as if we were in a cutthroat pawnshop.

From Project Gutenberg

Lying so, she looked far up into the blue sky where a buzzard floated on lazy wings.

From Project Gutenberg

But quick as she was, the buzzard, who had been watching her movements from the bough of a tree, was quicker still.

From Project Gutenberg

The process that had answered for one cat would answer for a second, as the buzzard very well knew.

From Project Gutenberg

The bees droned, and the wheeling buzzard suddenly dropped like a plummet a hundred yards through the larkspur blue.

From Project Gutenberg