hoot owl
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of hoot owl
An Americanism dating back to 1880–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Beyond hoot owl limits, those who fish have been asked to rapidly land their catch and carefully and quickly release them, to minimize the stress of handling and reduce the potential for killing them.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 23, 2021
The barred owl is also known as the hoot owl.
From Reuters ● Dec. 30, 2015
The sentry yawned, started at the sound of a hoot owl, relaxed and rubbed his eyes.
From Time Magazine Archive
I would no sooner "save the hoot owl" with my family than I would "collect thunder eggs."
From Time Magazine Archive
She gave me a startled look like the hoot owl at the Amish farm, then backed off toward a shelf of Beanie Babies.
From "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" by Jack Gantos
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
