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 byold ).

   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 Word Forms

• buzzardlike adjective
• buzzardly adjective

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

Mr Crompton described looking up and seeing the buzzard fly away from him after swooping down.

From BBC

A village primary school in east London has ordered pupils to stay inside due to a dive-bombing buzzard taking up residence in its playground.

From BBC

He’d seen buzzards on the hillside just ahead, where the terrain turns steeply upward and the forest begins.

From Los Angeles Times

From bullet sprays to sweaty Klansmen to buzzards circling overhead, “Sinners” doesn’t hold back like it’s too sophisticated to give the audience what they want.

From Los Angeles Times

In December 2024, the highly contagious virus was detected in a dead wild buzzard found in County Galway.

From BBC