owl
pronunciation
How to pronounce owl in British English:
UK [aʊl]
How to pronounce owl in American English:
US [aʊl]
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- Noun:
- nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
Word Origin
- owl
- owl: [OE] Owl has several relatives in the other modern Germanic languages (German eule, Dutch uil, Swedish uggla), which point back to a prehistoric source *uwwalōn, *uwwilōn. Like most owl-names, such as Latin ulula and the possibly related German uhu, this no doubt originated as an imitation of the owl’s call.
- owl (n.)
- Old English ule "owl," from Proto-Germanic *uwwalon- (cognates: Middle Dutch, Dutch uil, Old High German uwila, German Eule, Old Norse ugla), a diminutive of PIE root *u(wa)l-, which is imitative of a wail or an owl's hoot (compare Latin ulula "owl;" also see ululation). The bird was employed proverbially and figuratively in reference to nocturnal habits, ugliness, and appearance of gravity and wisdom (often ironic).
Example
- 1. A short eared owl flies infront of kaktovik 's wind turbine .
- 2. A barn owl brought neville a small package from his grandmother .
- 3. Barred owls take over spotted owl territory and in some cases even attack them .
- 4. From the top rafter , a great horned owl swiveled its head to look at us .
- 5. You 've been asking for an owl party ...... so that 's what I 'm working on now !