Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Buzzard \Buz"zard\ (b[u^]z"z[~e]rd), n.[O.E. busard, bosard, F.
busard, fr. buse, L. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to
the genus {Buteo} and related genera.
Note: The {Buteo vulgaris} is the common buzzard of Europe.
The American species (of which the most common are {B.
borealis}, {B. Pennsylvanicus}, and {B. lineatus}) are
usually called hen hawks. -- The rough-legged buzzard,
or bee hawk, of Europe ({Pernis apivorus}) feeds on
bees and their larv[ae], with other insects, and
reptiles. -- The moor buzzard of Europe is {Circus
[ae]ruginosus}. See {Turkey buzzard}, and {Carrion
buzzard}.
{Bald buzzard}, the fishhawk or osprey. See {Fishhawk}.
2. A blockhead; a dunce.
It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not
be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a
buzzard. --Goldsmith.
Hawk \Hawk\, n. [OE. hauk (prob. fr. Icel.), havek, AS. hafoc,
heafoc; akin to D. havik, OHG. habuh, G. habicht, Icel.
haukr, Sw. h["o]k, Dan. h["o]g, prob. from the root of E.
heave.] (Zo["o]l.)
One of numerous species and genera of rapacious birds of the
family {Falconid[ae]}. They differ from the true falcons in
lacking the prominent tooth and notch of the bill, and in
having shorter and less pointed wings. Many are of large size
and grade into the eagles. Some, as the goshawk, were
formerly trained like falcons. In a more general sense the
word is not infrequently applied, also, to true falcons, as
the sparrow hawk, pigeon hawk, duck hawk, and prairie hawk.
Note: Among the common American species are the red-tailed
hawk ({Buteo borealis}); the red-shouldered ({B.
lineatus}); the broad-winged ({B. Pennsylvanicus}); the
rough-legged ({Archibuteo lagopus}); the sharp-shinned
{Accipiter fuscus}). See {Fishhawk}, {Goshawk}, {Marsh
hawk}, under {Marsh}, {Night hawk}, under {Night}.
{Bee hawk} (Zo["o]l.), the honey buzzard.
{Eagle hawk}. See under {Eagle}.
{Hawk eagle} (Zo["o]l.), an Asiatic bird of the genus
{Spiz[ae]tus}, or {Limn[ae]tus}, intermediate between the
hawks and eagles. There are several species.
{Hawk fly} (Zo["o]l.), a voracious fly of the family
{Asilid[ae]}. See {Hornet fly}, under {Hornet}.
{Hawk moth}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Hawk moth}, in the Vocabulary.
{Hawk owl}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) A northern owl ({Surnia ulula}) of Europe and America. It
flies by day, and in some respects resembles the hawks.
(b) An owl of India ({Ninox scutellatus}).
{Hawk's bill} (Horology), the pawl for the rack, in the
striking mechanism of a clock.