little owl

American  

Also owlet

noun

1. a small, European owl, Athene noctua, often portrayed in art with the goddess Athena.

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little owl British  

noun

1. a small Old World owl, Athene noctua, having a speckled brown plumage and flattish head

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Etymology

Origin of little owl

First recorded in 1550–60

Example Sentences

We wait in the hopes of seeing a little owl that Graeme has photographed before.

From BBC

"Clearly a pair of little owls thought it would be a great place to make a nest," said Mr Plant.

From BBC

And there are dozens of drawings, ceramics and sculptures of owls created by Pablo Picasso — all inspired by a little owl with an injured talon that he and his partner Françoise Gilot rescued in 1946.

From New York Times

The sweaters — soft, white acrylic wool with little owls across the front — were expertly knitted.

From Washington Post

I spent hours looking for the perfect removable wallpaper online and landed upon a utterly charming pattern: little owls perched on branches.

From Salon