Word Meanings - OWL - Book Publishers vocabulary database

Any cpecies of raptorial birds of the family Strigidæ. They have large eyes and ears, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye. They are mostly nocturnal in their habits. Note: Some species have erectile tufts of feathers on the head.

Additional info about word: OWL

Any cpecies of raptorial birds of the family Strigidæ. They have large eyes and ears, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye. They are mostly nocturnal in their habits. Note: 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 BarnBurrowing, etc. Note: 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.

Related words: (words related to OWL)

• CIRCLED
  Having the form of a circle; round. "Monthly changes in her circled orb." Shak.
• NOCTURNAL
  1. Of, pertaining to, done or occuring in, the night; as, nocturnal darkness, cries, expedition, etc.; -- opposed to Ant: diurnal. Dryden. 2. Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as, nocturnal birds and insects.
• CONSPICUOUS
  1. Open to the view; obvious to the eye; easy to be seen; plainly visible; manifest; attracting the eye. It was a rock Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, Conspicious far. Milton. Conspicious by her veil and hood, Signing the cross, the abbess
• FAMILY
  A groupe of organisms, either animal or vegetable, related by certain points of resemblance in structure or development, more comprehensive than a genus, because it is usually based on fewer or less pronounced points of likeness. In zoölogy
• SPECIES
  A group of individuals agreeing in common attributes, and designated by a common name; a conception subordinated to another conception, called a genus, or generic conception, from which it differs in containing or comprehending more attributes,
• NOCTURNALLY
  By night; nightly.
• AROUND
  1. In a circle; circularly; on every side; round. 2. In a circuit; here and there within the surrounding space; all about; as, to travel around from town to town. 3. Near; in the neighborhood; as, this man was standing around when the fight took
• CIRCLE
  An instrument of observation, the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle. Note: When it is fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a mural circle; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in the plane
• LARGE-ACRED
  Possessing much land.
• FEATHERSTITCH
  A kind of embroidery stitch producing a branching zigzag line.
• CIRCLET
  1. A little circle; esp., an ornament for the person, having the form of a circle; that which encircles, as a ring, a bracelet, or a headband. Her fair locks in circlet be enrolled. Spenser. 2. A round body; an orb. Pope. Fairest of stars . . .
• LARGE-HANDED
  Having large hands, Fig.: Taking, or giving, in large quantities; rapacious or bountiful.
• LARGE-HEARTED
  Having a large or generous heart or disposition; noble; liberal. -- Large"-heart`ed*ness, n.
• MOSTLY
  For the greatest part; for the most part; chiefly; in the main.
• RAPTORIAL
  Rapacious; living upon prey; -- said especially of certain birds. Adapted for seizing prey; -- said of the legs, claws, etc., of insects, birds, and other animals. Of or pertaining to the Raptores. See Illust. of Aves.
• CIRCLER
  A mean or inferior poet, perhaps from his habit of wandering around as a stroller; an itinerant poet. Also, a name given to the cyclic poets. See under Cyclic, a. B. Jonson.
• LARGE
  Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; -- said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter. At large. Without restraint or confinement; as, to go at large; to be left at large. Diffusely; fully;
• LARGET
  A sport piece of bar iron for rolling into a sheet; a small billet.
• LARGESS; LARGESSE
  1. Liberality; generosity; bounty. Fulfilled of largesse and of all grace. Chaucer. 2. A present; a gift; a bounty bestowed. The heralds finished their proclamation with their usual cry of "Largesse, largesse, gallant knights!" and gold and silver
• BIRDSEED
  Canary seed, hemp, millet or other small seeds used for feeding caged birds.
• ENLARGEMENT
  1. The act of increasing in size or bulk, real or apparent; the state of being increased; augmentation; further extension; expansion. 2. Expansion or extension, as of the powers of the mind; ennoblement, as of the feelings and character; as, an
• FOOL-LARGESSE
  Foolish expenditure; waste. Chaucer.
• INCIRCLE
  See ENCIRCLE
• PARQUET CIRCLE
  That part of the lower floor of a theater with seats at the rear of the parquet and beneath the galleries; -- called also, esp. in U. S., orchestra circle or parterre.
• INNERMOSTLY
  In the innermost place. His ebon cross worn innermostly. Mrs. Browning.
• DRESS CIRCLE
  A gallery or circle in a theater, generally the first above the floor, in which originally dress clothes were customarily worn.
• LAND OF STEADY HABITS
  Connecticut; -- a nickname alluding to the moral character of its inhabitants, implied by the rigid laws of the early period.
• FOREMOSTLY
  In the foremost place or order; among the foremost. J. Webster.
• ENCIRCLE
  To form a circle about; to inclose within a circle or ring; to surround; as, to encircle one in the arms; the army encircled the city. Her brows encircled with his serpent rod. Parnell. Syn. -- To encompass; surround; environ; inclose.