flying kite

noun

, Nautical.

1. any of various sails set above the royals or skysails in light weather; jolly jumper.
2. any of various light upper staysails, studdingsails, or jibs.
3. (in yachting) any of various racing sails, as spinnakers or balloon jibs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of flying kite¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

To put it another way, the spars should be on the back of the flying kite, and the thread should be on the front.

From New York Times

In an interview in 2014 a member of Shanghai’s Public Security Bureau said that “a fugitive is like a flying kite: even though he is abroad, the string is in China.”

From Economist

A fugitive is like a flying kite, he said.

From New York Times

Besides the sail usually carried by man-of-war schooners, she had the requisite appertenances for a royal and flying kite, or sky-sail, which, now that she was in port, were all rigged up.

From Project Gutenberg

She'd have pared the claws of a flying kite; a snake does not bring forth a halter: Glyco might do what he would with his own; but it will be a brand on him as long as he lives; nor can any thing but Hell blot it out; however, every man's faults are his own.

From Project Gutenberg