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).
Phrases and idioms:
kite balloon a sausage-shaped captive balloon for military observations. kite-flying fraudulent practice.
Etymology: OE cyta, of unkn. orig.