kite

In prison slang, a kite is a message or note. Historically, kites were contraband notes passed between prisoners or smuggled out of prison.

Kite, as prison slang for notes passed between inmates, was first recorded in the 1920s. It apparently takes its name from prisoners flinging notes on a string to one another, like flying a kite, as the activity was called.

In contemporary prison culture, kites are sent in a variety of creative ways, including when a prisoner passes a note while doing work such as laundry or delivering food. Kites may also be passed by addressing a letter to a fake address, putting the name and address of the intended recipient as the return address, and waiting for the post office to return to the “sender.”  

Kite has become common enough in prison culture that any message, especially a written request, is referred to as a kite, including among staff. Want to see a doctor, get moved to another cell block, or complain about a guard? Send a kite or kite it. And kites complaining about prison staff, by the way, are known as fan mail.

Both inmates and correctional staff use kite to refer to messages and communication. Messages from inmates to people outside prison may also be called kites.

Big Meech Sends Meek Mill A Virtual Kite From Prison On How To Handle The Game https://t.co/SnbxII7mnx pic.twitter.com/7fbnBmucWk

— Bossip (@Bossip) September 17, 2016

“@SWAGGAD0WNPAT: would one be right in assuming a prison "kite" is the equivalent to a real world "tweet"?”

Now you're getting it!

— Damien Echols (@damienechols) January 13, 2013

It's an @earhustlesq tradition! This season's "Catch a Kite" episode answers listener questions about sleep, soundtracks, signing in prison and more.

Plus, if you submitted an Ear Hustle theme remix, you may hear it in this episode… 🎶 https://t.co/mWqlOye2ku pic.twitter.com/e6RcN5cISY

— Radiotopia (@radiotopia) September 11, 2019

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.