Bible Dictionary
Glede
Glede was an old English name for a kite or similar bird of prey. It was listed among the birds forbidden as food under the law of Moses.
Definition
Glede was an old English name for a kite or similar hawk-like bird of prey. In the biblical list it is identified with a bird among those forbidden as food.
Biblical Usage
The glede appears in Deuteronomy 14:13 among the unclean birds. The corresponding passage in Leviticus uses a different Hebrew word, rendered “vulture” or “kite.”
Historical Background
The bird has been identified with the black kite, a buzzard, or another member of the hawk family. The Hebrew designation is connected with keen sight, and the English name is associated with gliding flight.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
An Old English name for the common kite, mentioned only in Deut. 14:13 (Heb. ra’ah), the Milvus ater or black kite. The Hebrew word does not occur in the parallel passage in Leviticus (11:14, da’ah, rendered “vulture;” in R.V., “kite”). It was an unclean bird. The Hebrew name is from a root meaning “to see,” “to look,” thus designating a bird with a keen sight. The bird intended is probably the buzzard, of which there are three species found in Palestine. (See VULTURE.)
Smith's Bible Dictionary
the old name for the common kite (Milvus ater), occurs only in (14:13) among the unclean birds of prey.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>gled (ra`ah; gups): A member of the hawk species. It is given among the list of abominations in De 14:13, but not in the Le list (Le 11:14). The kite is substituted. The Arabs might have called one of the buzzards the glede. In England, where specimens of most of these birds appear in migration, the glede is synonymous with kite, and was given the name from glide, to emphasize a gliding motion in flight. See illustration, p. 1235.</p>