buzzard

¹

[ buhz-erd ]

noun

1. any of several broad-winged, soaring hawks of the genus Buteo and allied genera, especially B. buteo, of Europe.
2. any of several New World vultures of the family Cathartidae, especially the turkey vulture.
3. Slang. a contemptible or cantankerous person (often preceded by old ):

   That old buzzard has lived in the same shack for twenty years.

adjective

1. Obsolete. senseless; stupid.

buzzard

²

[ buhz-erd ]

noun

, British Dialect.

1. any of various nocturnal buzzing insects, as cockchafers.

buzzard

/ ˈbʌzəd /

noun

1. any diurnal bird of prey of the genus Buteo , typically having broad wings and tail and a soaring flight: family Accipitridae (hawks, etc) Compare honey buzzard turkey buzzard
2. a mean or cantankerous person

Other Words From

• buzzard·like adjective
• buzzard·ly adjective adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of buzzard¹

1250–1300; Middle English busard < Old French, variant of buisard, equivalent to buis ( on ) buzzard (< Latin būteōn-, stem of būteō kind of hawk) + -ard -ard

Origin of buzzard²

First recorded in 1645–55; buzz + -ard

Word History and Origins

Origin of buzzard¹

C13: from Old French buisard , variant of buison buzzard, from Latin būteō hawk, falcon

Example Sentences

On 13 August 1981, Det Supt Prickett walked into a convenience store on a council estate in Linslade, near Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, and saw Carol Morgan's body.

From BBC

Ms Bunting told the trial that while at the former Dolphin pub in Leighton Buzzard, Morgan asked her whether an ex-boyfriend would know anyone who could kill Carol.

From BBC

More than 80 officers were assigned to the murder investigation, chasing down leads out of a hot and cramped incident room in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

From BBC

Ms Bunting would later go on to tell a criminal trial that while at the former Dolphin pub in Leighton Buzzard, Morgan asked her whether an ex-boyfriend would know anyone who could kill Carol.

From BBC

She was born in Leighton Buzzard in 1955 and was placed in Luton Whitaker Mother and Baby Unit in 1971.

From BBC