owl

[ oul ]

noun

1. any of numerous, chiefly nocturnal birds of prey, of the order Strigiformes, having a broad head with large, forward-directed eyes that are usually surrounded by disks of modified feathers: many populations are diminishing owing to loss of habitat.
2. one of a breed of domestic pigeons having an owllike appearance.
3. night owl.
4. a person of owllike solemnity or appearance.

adjective

1. operating late at night or all night:

   an owl train.

owl

/ aʊl /

noun

1. any nocturnal bird of prey of the order Strigiformes, having large front-facing eyes, a small hooked bill, soft feathers, and a short neck
2. any of various breeds of owl-like fancy domestic pigeon (esp the African owl, Chinese owl, and English owl )
3. a person who looks or behaves like an owl, esp in having a solemn manner

Derived Forms

• ˈowl-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• owllike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of owl¹

before 900; Middle English oule, Old English ūle; cognate with Low German ūle, Dutch uil; akin to German Eule, Old Norse ugla

Word History and Origins

Origin of owl¹

Old English ūle; related to Dutch uil, Old High German ūwila, Old Norse ugla

Idioms and Phrases

see night owl .

Example Sentences

The new album’s title may hint at sunshine and waking hours, but make no mistake, Yoakam is a night owl, a man for whom work begins around dusk and often stretches into dawn.

From Los Angeles Times

I looked like an owl, my head swiveling on my neck, trying to take it all in.

From Slate

One birdwatcher, who spotted a short-eared owl above moorland in the Peak District only to see it shot out of the sky, agreed to speak to the BBC anonymously as he feared reprisals for reporting the killing to the police.

From BBC

He said the killing was “wrong on every level”, explaining: "This was an owl which was doing no wrong, a beautiful bird people go out of their way to watch, and someone had thought 'I can shoot that!'."

From BBC

The witness reported the shooting to the police and helped them to locate the body of the owl.

From BBC

Related Words

• bandit
• burglar
• criminal
• crook
• mugger
• pickpocket
• pirate
• robber
• sniper
• swindler