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Definition of kestrel

kestrel

/ˈkɛs.trəl/
kes · trel
Plural:kestrels
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kestrel Lexical Profile

kestrel Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small bird of prey belonging to the falcon family (genus Falco), typically found in open country across Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas, distinguished by its behavior of hovering stationary against the wind while hunting for ground-dwelling rodents.

Example

"We paused our hike to watch a kestrel hovering gracefully over the meadow, its sharp eyes locked on the grass below."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for kestrel

• Rhymes for kestrel

• Nearby Words

kerosene
kerry
kerrybush
kestrel
ketamine
ketch
ketchup

Word Origin & Etymology

Late Middle English: from Old French 'crecerelle', possibly derived from 'crecelle' meaning 'rattle', in reference to the bird's distinctive, sharp cry.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kestrel. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 2, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kestrel
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