buzzard
1[ buhz-erd ]
/ ˈbʌz ərd /
|
noun
any of several broad-winged, soaring hawks of the genus Buteo and allied genera, especially B. buteo, of Europe.
any of several New World vultures of the family Cathartidae, especially the turkey vulture.
Slang. a contemptible or cantankerous person (often preceded by old): That old buzzard has lived in the same shack for twenty years.
adjective
Obsolete. senseless; stupid.
Nearby words
buzz saw, buzz term, buzz word, buzz-cut, buzz-saw, buzzard, buzzard's bay, buzzardly, buzzards bay, buzzcut, buzzer
Origin of buzzard
11250–1300; Middle English busard < Old French, variant of buisard, equivalent to buis(on) buzzard (< Latin būteōn-, stem of būteō kind of hawk) + -ard -ard
Related formsbuz·zard·like, adjectivebuz·zard·ly, adjective, adverb
Definition for buzzard (2 of 2)
buzzard
2[ buhz-erd ]
/ ˈbʌz ərd /
noun British Dialect.
any of various nocturnal buzzing insects, as cockchafers.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for buzzard
British Dictionary definitions for buzzard
buzzard
/ (ˈbʌzəd) /
noun
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
a mean or cantankerous person
Word Origin for buzzard
C13: from Old French buisard, variant of buison buzzard, from Latin būteō hawk, falcon
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for buzzard
buzzard
c.1300, from Old French buisart "buzzard, harrier, inferior hawk," from buson, buison, from Latin buteonem (nominative buteo) a kind of hawk, perhaps with -art suffix for one that carries on some action or possesses some quality, with derogatory connotation (see -ard).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper