Main Entry:

owl

Pronunciation:

\ˈau̇(-ə)l\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English owle, from Old English ūle; akin to Old High German uwila owl

Date:

before 12th century

: any of an order (Strigiformes) of chiefly nocturnal birds of prey with a large head and eyes, short hooked bill, strong talons, and soft fluffy often brown-mottled plumage