windhover
English
Etymology
wind + hover, due to the bird’s habit of hovering by beating the wind with its wings; compare the earlier word windfucker.[1]
Noun
windhover (plural windhovers)
- (Britain) The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). [from 1674]
Synonyms
- kestrel
- staniel
- windfucker, windsucker
Translations
common kestrel — see common kestrel
References
- “windhover” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
Further reading
common kestrel on Wikipedia.Wikipedia