owl Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
hooter; bird of night; bird of Minerva.

AS. le; akin to D. uil, OHG. wila, G. eule, Icel. ugla, Sw. ugla, Dan. ugle.

(Zoöl.) Any cpecies of raptorial birds of the family Strigidæ. 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 Barn owl, Burrowing owl, Eared owl, Hawk owl, Horned owl, Screech owl, Snowy owl, under 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.
(Zoöl.) A variety of the domestic pigeon.

imperfect & past participle Owled ; present participle & verbal noun Owling

To pry about; to prowl. Prov. Eng.
To carry wool or sheep out of England. Obs. ✍ This was formerly illegal, and was done chiefly by night.
Hence, to carry on any contraband trade. Eng.