bald buzzard

Bald \Bald\ (b[add]ld), a. [OE. balled, ballid, perh. the p. p.
   of ball to reduce to the roundness or smoothness of a ball,
   by removing hair. [root]85. But cf. W. bali whiteness in a
   horse's forehead.]
   1. Destitute of the natural or common covering on the head or
      top, as of hair, feathers, foliage, trees, etc.; as, a
      bald head; a bald oak.
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            On the bald top of an eminence.       --Wordsworth.
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   2. Destitute of ornament; unadorned; bare; literal.
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            In the preface to his own bald translation.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   3. Undisguised. " Bald egotism." --Lowell.
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   4. Destitute of dignity or value; paltry; mean. [Obs.]
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   5. (Bot.) Destitute of a beard or awn; as, bald wheat.
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   6. (Zool.)
      (a) Destitute of the natural covering.
      (b) Marked with a white spot on the head; bald-faced.
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   {Bald buzzard} (Zool.), the fishhawk or osprey.

   {Bald coot} (Zool.), a name of the European coot ({Fulica
      atra}), alluding to the bare patch on the front of the
      head.
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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.]
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   1. (Zool.) A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to
      the genus {Buteo} and related genera.
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   2. (Zool.) In the United States, a term used for the {turkey
      vulture} ({Cathartes aura}), and sometimes
      indiscriminately to any vulture.
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   Note: The {Buteo vulgaris} is the common buzzard of Europe.
         The American species (of which the most common are
         {Buteo borealis}, {Buteo Pennsylvanicus}, and {Buteo
         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}.
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   {Bald buzzard}, the fishhawk or osprey. See {Fishhawk}.
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   2. A blockhead; a dunce.
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            It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not
            be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a
            buzzard.                              --Goldsmith.
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Fishhawk \Fish"hawk`\, n. (Zool.)
   The osprey ({Pandion halia["e]tus}), found both in Europe and
   America; -- so called because it plunges into the water and
   seizes fishes in its talons. Called also {fishing eagle}, and
   {bald buzzard}.
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