Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Owl
Owl
(oul)
, Noun.
[AS.
ūle
; akin to D. uil
, OHG. ūwila
, G. eule
, Icel. ugla
, Sw. ugla
, Dan. ugle
.] 1.
(Zool.)
Any species of raptorial birds of the family
Strigidae
. They have large eyes and ears, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye. They are mostly nocturnal in their habits. ☞ Some species have erectile tufts of feathers on the head. The feathers are soft and somewhat downy. The species are numerous. See , , , , , , , under
Barn owl
Burrowing owl
Eared owl
Hawk owl
Horned owl
Screech owl
Snowy owl
Barn
, Burrowing
, etc. ☞ In the Scriptures the owl is commonly associated with desolation; poets and story-tellers introduce it as a bird of ill omen. . . . The Greeks and Romans made it the emblem of wisdom, and sacred to Minerva, – and indeed its large head and solemn eyes give it an air of wisdom.
Am. Cyc.
2.
(Zool.)
A variety of the domestic pigeon.
Owl monkey
(Zool.)
, any one of several species of South American nocturnal monkeys of the genus
– Nyctipithecus
. They have very large eyes. Called also durukuli
. Owl moth
(Zool.)
, a very large moth (
– Erebus strix
). The expanse of its wings is over ten inches. Owl parrot
(Zool.)
, the kakapo.
– Sea owl
(Zool.)
, the lumpfish.
– Owl train
, a cant name for certain railway trains whose run is in the nighttime.
Owl
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Owled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Owling
.] 1.
To pry about; to prowl.
[Prov. Eng.]
2.
To carry wool or sheep out of England.
[Obs.]
☞ This was formerly illegal, and was done chiefly by night.
3.
Hence, to carry on any contraband trade.
[Eng.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Owl
OWL
,Noun.
A fowl of the genus Strix, that flies chiefly in the night.