Kestrel

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Kestrel \Kes"trel\ (k[e^]s"tr[e^]l), n. [See {Castrel}.] (Zool.)
     A small, slender European hawk ({Falco alaudarius}), allied
     to the sparrow hawk. Its color is reddish fawn, streaked and
     spotted with white and black. Also called {windhover} and
     {stannel}. The name is also applied to other allied species.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: This word is often used in contempt, as of a mean kind
           of hawk. "Kites and kestrels have a resemblance with
           hawks." --Bacon.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  kestrel
       n 1: small North American falcon [syn: {sparrow hawk}, {American
            kestrel}, {Falco sparverius}]
       2: small Old World falcon that hovers in the air against a wind
          [syn: {Falco tinnunculus}]