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kestrel

Pronunciation: /ˈkɛstr(ə)l/
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Definition of kestrel

noun

  • a small falcon that hovers with rapidly beating wings while searching for prey on the ground.
    • Genus Falco, family Falconidae: several species, in particular the common kestrel (F. tinnunculus) of Eurasia and Africa, and the American kestrel (F. sparverius)

Origin:

late Middle English castrel, perhaps from casserelle, dialect variant of Old French crecerelle, perhaps imitative of its call

kestrel in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of kestrel in the US English dictionary

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