kestrel

[ kes-truh l ]

/ ˈkɛs trəl /

noun

a common small falcon, Falco tinnunculus, of northern parts of the Eastern Hemisphere, notable for hovering in the air with its head to the wind.

any of several related small falcons, as the American kestrel, F. sparverius.

Nearby words

Origin of kestrel

1400–50; late Middle English castrell < Middle French quercerelle, metathetic variant of crecerelle, of disputed orig.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for kestrel

In straight-ahead flying, in mounting, and in throwing up, the kestrel was completely outpaced.
The Art and Practice of Hawking|Edward B. Michell
Of the migratory birds of prey the kestrel is perhaps the first to arrive; the osprey and the peregrine falcon are among the last.
A Bird Calendar for Northern India|Douglas Dewar
The kestrel migrates in autumn, going away at the same time with the larks, which are its favourite food.
Mamma's Stories about Birds|Anonymous (AKA the author of "Chickseed without Chickweed")
The Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) also still survives, and we do not grudge it a prolonged lease of life.
Records of Woodhall Spa and Neighbourhood|J. Conway Walter

Now the Kestrel and the Sparrow-hawk are the only two that are left, at least in the localities we have specified above.
Among the Birds in Northern Shires|Charles Dixon

British Dictionary definitions for kestrel

kestrel

/ (ˈkɛstrəl) /

noun

any of several small falcons, esp the European Falco tinnunculus, that tend to hover against the wind and feed on small mammals on the ground

Word Origin for kestrel

C15: changed from Old French cresserele, from cressele rattle, from Vulgar Latin crepicella (unattested), from Latin crepitāre to crackle, from crepāre to rustle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for kestrel

kestrel

kind of falcon, c.1600, earlier castrell (15c.), probably from Middle French cresserelle, which apparently is related to crecerelle "rattle," from Latin crepitacillium "small rattle," diminutive of crepitaculum "noisy bell, rattle," from crepitare "to crackle, rattle;" possibly from the old belief that their noise frightened away other hawks.