kestrel

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: kes=trel

CIDE DICTIONARY

kestrel, n. [See Castrel.].

 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]
" 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]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

kestrel, n. any small falcon, esp. Falco tinnunculus, which hovers whilst searching for its prey.

Etymology

ME castrell, perh. f. F dial. casserelle, F cr{eacute}c(er)elle, perh. imit. of its cry