kaɪt n. & v. --n. 1 a
toy consisting of a
light framework with thin material stretched
over it,
flown in
the wind at the
end of a long
string. 2
any of
various soaring birds of
prey esp. of the
genus Milvus with long wings
and usu. a
forked tail. 3
Brit. sl. an
aeroplane. 4 sl. a
fraudulent cheque, bill, or
receipt. 5 Geom. a
quadrilateral figure symmetrical
about one diagonal. 6 sl. a
letter or
note, esp. one
that is
illicit or
surreptitious. 7 (in pl.) the highest
sail of a
ship, set
only in a light wind. 8
archaic a
dishonest person, a
sharper. --v. 1 intr.
soar like a kite. 2 tr. (also absol.)
originate or pass (fraudulent cheques, bills, or receipts). 3 tr. (also absol.)
raise (money by dishonest means) (kite a loan). økite
balloon a sausage-shaped
captive balloon
for military observations. kite-flying fraudulent
practice. [OE cyta, of unkn. orig.]