Word Study
buzzard
CIDE DICTIONARY
buzzard, n. [O.E. busard, bosard, F. busard, fr. buse, L. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk.].
- A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to the genus
Buteo and related genera. [1913 Webster] - In the United States, a term used for the turkey vulture (
Cathartes aura ), and sometimes indiscriminately to any vulture. [PJC]" TheButeo vulgaris is the common buzzard of Europe. The American species (of which the most common areButeo borealis ,Buteo Pennsylvanicus , andButeo lineatus ) are usually called hen hawks. -- The rough-legged buzzard, or bee hawk, of Europe (Pernis apivorus ) feeds on bees and their larvæ, with other insects, and reptiles. -- The moor buzzard of Europe isCircus æruginosus . SeeTurkey buzzard , andCarrion buzzard ." [1913 Webster]"It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a buzzard." [1913 Webster] - A blockhead; a dunce. [1913 Webster]
buzzard, a.
Senseless; stupid. Milton. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
buzzard, n.
1 any of a group of predatory birds of the hawk family, esp. of the genus Butea, with broad wings well adapted for soaring flight.
2 US a turkey buzzard.
1 any of a group of predatory birds of the hawk family, esp. of the genus Butea, with broad wings well adapted for soaring flight.
2 US a turkey buzzard.
Etymology
ME f. OF busard, buson f. L buteo -onis falcon
ROGET THESAURUS
buzzard
Fool
N fool, idiot, tomfool, wiseacre, simpleton, witling, dizzard, donkey, ass, ninny, ninnyhammer, chowderhead, chucklehead, dolt, booby, Tom Noddy, looby, hoddy-doddy, noddy, nonny, noodle, nizy, owl, goose, goosecap, imbecile, gaby, radoteur, nincompoop, badaud, zany, trifler, babbler, pretty fellow, natural, niais, child, baby, infant, innocent, milksop, sop, oaf, lout, loon, lown, dullard, doodle, calf, colt, buzzard, block, put, stick, stock, numps, tony, bull head, dunderhead, addlehead, blockhead, dullhead, loggerhead, jolthead, jolterhead, beetlehead, beetlebrain, grosshead, muttonhead, noodlehead, giddyhead, numbskull, thickskull, lackbrain, shallowbrain, dimwit, halfwit, lackwit, dunderpate, lunkhead sawney, gowk, clod, clod-hopper, clod-poll, clot-poll, clot-pate, bull calf, gawk, Gothamite, lummox, rube, men of Boeotia, wise men of Gotham, un sot a triple etage, sot, jobbernowl, changeling, mooncalf, gobemouche, dotard, driveler, old fogey, old woman, crock, crone, grandmother, cotquean, henhussy, incompetent (insanity), greenhorn, dunce, lubber, madman, one who will not set the Thames on fire, one who did not invent gunpowder, qui n'a pas invente' la poudre, no conjuror, fortuna favet fatuis, les fous font les festinas et les sages les mangen, nomina stultorum parietibus harrent, stultorum plena sunt omnia.For further exploring for "buzzard" in Webster Dictionary Online