Main Entry: kes·trel

Pronunciation: \ˈkes-trəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English castrel, from Middle French crecerelle, from crecelle rattle; from its cry

Date: 15th century

: any of various small chiefly Old World falcons (genus Falco) that usually hover in the air while searching for prey: as a : a common Eurasian falcon (F. tinnunculus) b : an American falcon (F. sparverius) having a reddish-brown back and tail and bluish-gray wings