buzzard

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A large bird of prey with broad wings and a broad tail, common in Europe.

   A buzzard circled slowly over the open field, hunting for mice.

2. 2
   noun

   A scavenging bird such as the American vulture.

   Buzzards gathered around the carcass at the side of the highway.

3. 3
   noun

   An unpleasant, mean, or bad-tempered old man.

   The old buzzard next door yelled at us for stepping on his lawn.

From Middle English bosart, from Anglo-Norman buisart, from Old French busart, busard, a derivative ( + -ard) of Old French buison, buson (French buse), possibly from Latin būteō (“hawk”).

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