owl

n. [ AS. ūle; akin to D. uil, OHG. ūwila, G. eule, Icel. ugla, Sw. ugla, Dan. ugle. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A variety of the domestic pigeon. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Owl, v. i. ] One who owls; esp., one who conveys contraband goods. See Owling, n. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] T. Brown. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Owleries An abode or a haunt of owls. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Dim. of owl. Cf. Howlet. ] (Zool.) A small owl; especially, the European species (Athene noctua), and the California flammulated owlet (Megascops flammeolus). [ 1913 Webster ]

Owlet moth (Zool.), any noctuid moth. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having eyes like an owl's. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Owl, v. i. ] (O. Eng. Law) The offense of transporting wool or sheep out of England contrary to the statute formerly existing. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling, or characteristic of, an owl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Affected wisdom; pompous dullness. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]