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.
one of a breed of domestic pigeons having an owllike appearance.
night owl.
a person of owllike solemnity or appearance.
adjective
operating late at night or all night: an owl train.
Origin of owl
before 900; Middle English oule,Old English ūle; cognate with Low German ūle,Dutch uil; akin to German Eule,Old Norse ugla
The owl would see the fish, approach for a closer look, and get caught.
The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl|Jonathan Slaght|August 28, 2020|Popular Science
We’d still made some progress this year, even if we hadn’t caught any owls.
The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl|Jonathan Slaght|August 28, 2020|Popular Science
Either the resident fish owls were not interested in the frozen marine fish we offered as lures or the birds were unwilling to walk under the suspicious netted domes to investigate them.
The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl|Jonathan Slaght|August 28, 2020|Popular Science
It was right around this time, when I’d come to terms with our failures, that we caught our first owl.
The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl|Jonathan Slaght|August 28, 2020|Popular Science
As a result, this abundant species is a critical resource for fish owls in winter.
The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl|Jonathan Slaght|August 28, 2020|Popular Science
This video remedies that injustice, showcasing an owl doing a butterfly stroke in Lake Michigan.
Swimming Owls, Jane Krakowski’s Peter Pan Live! Audition, and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fernandez-Duque discovered that owl monkeys are the only reliably monogamous mammal species.
P.J. on the Owl-Monkey Project and the Science of Chick Flicks|P. J. O’Rourke|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Owl monkey offspring get an inordinate amount of care from their fathers.
P.J. on the Owl-Monkey Project and the Science of Chick Flicks|P. J. O’Rourke|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Heads the Owl Monkey Project, which has been studying owl monkeys in Argentina for 18 years.
P.J. on the Owl-Monkey Project and the Science of Chick Flicks|P. J. O’Rourke|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Keeping the hours of an owl, he does most of the location scouting and exploration.
A Most Illegal Adventure with New York City’s Wildest Underground Event Planners|Nina Strochlic|December 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When the owl stops they gather round again and go through the same performance more excitedly than before.
Ways of Wood Folk|William J. Long
On January 15, 1950, an owl attacked an opossum caught in a live-trap.
Ecology of the Opossum on a Natural Area in Northeastern Kansas|Henry S. Fitch
Then from the little clump of trees came the hoot of an owl that caused him to straighten up quickly and to listen intently.
The Cave of Gold|Everett McNeil
The owl, which the Indians were quite sure contained the soul of some great dead warrior, followed and continually menaced them.
The Keepers of the Trail|Joseph A. Altsheler
And because they were so big, and because he could roll them, there was very little going on that Mr. Owl didn't see.
Mother West Wind "How" Stories|Thornton W. Burgess
British Dictionary definitions for owl
owl
/ (aʊl) /
noun
any nocturnal bird of prey of the order Strigiformes, having large front-facing eyes, a small hooked bill, soft feathers, and a short neck
any of various breeds of owl-like fancy domestic pigeon (esp the African owl, Chinese owl, and English owl)
a person who looks or behaves like an owl, esp in having a solemn manner
Derived forms of owl
owl-like, adjective
Word Origin for owl
Old English ūle; related to Dutch uil, Old High German ūwila, Old Norse ugla