great horned owl

noun

: a large American owl (Bubo virginianus) with conspicuous ear tufts

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of great horned owl was in 1748

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Great horned owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great%20horned%20owl. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

great horned owl

noun
: an American owl with two bunches of feathers resembling ears or horns at the top of the head

More from Merriam-Webster on great horned owl

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster