Buz"zard (?), n.[O.E. busard, bosard, F. busard, fr. buse, L. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk.]
1. Zool.
A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to the genus Buteo and related genera.
⇒ The Buteo vulgaris is the common buzzard of Europe. The American species (of which the most common are B. borealis, B. Pennsylvanicus, and B. lineatus) are usually called hen hawks. -- The rough-legged buzzard, or bee hawk, of Europe (Pernis apivorus) feeds on bees and their larvae, with other insects, and reptiles. -- The moor buzzard of Europe is Circus aeruginosus. See Turkey buzzard, and Carrion buzzard.
Bald buzzard, the fishhawk or osprey. See Fishhawk.
2.
A blockhead; a dunce.
It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a buzzard.
Goldsmith.
© Webster 1913.
Buz"zard, a.
Senseless; stupid. [R.& Obs.] Milton.
© Webster 1913.