roughleg Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun large hawk of the northern hemisphere that feeds chiefly on small rodents and is beneficial to farmers
    Buteo lagopus; rough-legged hawk.

WordNet

Rough"leg` noun
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of large hawks of the genus Archibuteo, having the legs feathered to the toes. Called also rough-legged hawk, and rough-legged buzzard. ✍ The best known species is Archibuteo lagopus of Northern Europe, with its darker American variety (Sancti-johannis). The latter is often nearly or quite black. The ferruginous roughleg (Archibuteo ferrugineus) inhabits Western North America.

Webster 1913