kite

[ kahyt ]

noun

1. a light frame covered with some thin material, to be flown in the wind at the end of a long string.
2. any of several small birds of the hawk family Accipitridae that have long, pointed wings, feed on insects, carrion, reptiles, rodents, and birds, and are noted for their graceful, gliding flight. Compare black kite, swallow-tailed kite, white-tailed kite.
3. Nautical. flying kite.
4. Finance.
   1. a check drawn against uncollected or insufficient funds, as for redepositing, with the intention of creating a false balance in the account by taking advantage of the time lapse required for collection.
   2. a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.
5. a person who preys on others; sharper.

verb (used without object)

, kit·ed, kit·ing.

1. Informal. to fly or move with a rapid or easy motion like that of a kite.
2. to obtain money or credit through kites.

verb (used with object)

, kit·ed, kit·ing.

1. to employ (a check or the like) as a kite; to cash or pass (a kite, forged check, etc.).

kite

¹

/ kaɪt /

noun

1. a light frame covered with a thin material flown in the wind at the end of a length of string
2. slang.
   an aeroplane
3. plural nautical any of various light sails set in addition to the working sails of a vessel
4. any diurnal bird of prey of the genera Milvus, Elanus, etc, typically having a long forked tail and long broad wings and usually preying on small mammals and insects: family Accipitridae (hawks, etc)
5. archaic.
   a person who preys on others
6. commerce a negotiable paper drawn without any actual transaction or assets and designed to obtain money on credit, give an impression of affluence, etc
7. fly a kite
   See fly 1
8. high as a kite
   See high

verb

1. to issue (fictitious papers) to obtain credit or money
2. tr to write (a cheque) in anticipation of sufficient funds to cover it
3. intr to soar and glide

kite

²

/ kəɪt /

noun

1. a variant spelling of kyte

Derived Forms

• ˈkiter, noun

Other Words From

• kiter noun
• kitelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kite¹

First recorded before 900 kite fordef 2; 1655–65 kite fordef 1; Middle English kyte, Old English cȳta “kite, bittern”; akin to German Kauz “owl”

Word History and Origins

Origin of kite¹

Old English cӯta; related to Middle High German küze owl, Old Norse kӯta to quarrel

Idioms and Phrases

see go fly a kite ; high as a kite .

Example Sentences

He talked about going to an art show at the studio, and he saw a piece of a bunch of gargoyles sitting on a log flying kites.

From Los Angeles Times

The 27-year-old became the inaugural Olympic kite champion by winning two races in the final series on Thursday.

From BBC

There is one spot he likes near Muggleswick where he can lie on his back among the heather and watch the red kites soar above him.

From BBC

She said a month after the operation, Adrian was running on the beach with a kite.

From BBC

The breathtaking menswear displays in the show “Up, Up, and Away” featured couture-like poetry: seemingly weightless textiles that billowed like parachutes or kites.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• answer
• memo
• memorandum
• message
• note
• postcard
• reply
• report

About This Word

What else does kite mean?

In prison slang, a kite is a message or note. Historically, kites were contraband notes passed between prisoners or smuggled out of prison.

Where does kite come from?

Kite, as prison slang for notes passed between inmates, was first recorded in the 1920s. It apparently takes its name from prisoners flinging notes on a string to one another, like flying a kite, as the activity was called.

In contemporary prison culture, kites are sent in a variety of creative ways, including when a prisoner passes a note while doing work such as laundry or delivering food. Kites may also be passed by addressing a letter to a fake address, putting the name and address of the intended recipient as the return address, and waiting for the post office to return to the “sender.”  

Kite has become common enough in prison culture that any message, especially a written request, is referred to as a kite, including among staff. Want to see a doctor, get moved to another cell block, or complain about a guard? Send a kite or kite it. And kites complaining about prison staff, by the way, are known as fan mail.

How is kite used in real life?

Both inmates and correctional staff use kite to refer to messages and communication. Messages from inmates to people outside prison may also be called kites.

Big Meech Sends Meek Mill A Virtual Kite From Prison On How To Handle The Game https://t.co/SnbxII7mnx pic.twitter.com/7fbnBmucWk

— Bossip (@Bossip) September 17, 2016

“@SWAGGAD0WNPAT: would one be right in assuming a prison "kite" is the equivalent to a real world "tweet"?”

Now you're getting it!

— Damien Echols (@damienechols) January 13, 2013

It's an @earhustlesq tradition! This season's "Catch a Kite" episode answers listener questions about sleep, soundtracks, signing in prison and more.

Plus, if you submitted an Ear Hustle theme remix, you may hear it in this episode… 🎶 https://t.co/mWqlOye2ku pic.twitter.com/e6RcN5cISY

— Radiotopia (@radiotopia) September 11, 2019

 

 

Note

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.