windhover

English

Etymology

From 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)

  1. (British) The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). [from 1674]

Synonyms

Translations

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “windhover”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Further reading