owlish

[ ou-lish ]

/ ˈaʊ lɪʃ /

adjective

resembling or characteristic of an owl: His thick glasses give him an owlish appearance.

Nearby words

owl's claws, owl's clover, owlet, owlet moth, owlet nightjar, owlish, owlishly, own, own brand, own goal, own medicine

Origin of owlish

First recorded in 1605–15; owl + -ish¹

Related formsowl·ish·ly, adjectiveowl·ish·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for owlish

Here we see the well-known face, a bearded mask housing a pair of glowing, owlish eyes, the hair and forehead flecked with blood.
The Shroud of Turin and Thomas de Wesselow’s ‘The Sign.’|Thomas de Wesselow|April 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In his haste to flee, he had dropped his owlish horn rims, his wallet, and false teeth.
The Killing of Guerrilla Leader Boosts Violence-Weary Colombia|Mac Margolis|November 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
They were all round and owlish, and they thickened up in middle life.
Old Crow|Alice Brown
The Landgravine was led to the ballroom by her partner, an owlish colonel, and the other couples followed.
The Road to Paris|Robert Neilson Stephens

Peegwish opened his owlish eyes and looked so solemn that Victor could scarce forbear laughing, despite the circumstances.
The Red Man's Revenge|R.M. Ballantyne
In this strain General Feraud ran on, holding up his head, with owlish eyes and rapacious beak.
A Set of Six|Joseph Conrad
David bethought himself instead of the owlish Mizrachi, his visit to whom had been left unfinished.
Ghetto Comedies|Israel Zangwill

British Dictionary definitions for owlish

owlish

/ (ˈaʊlɪʃ) /

adjective

like an owl

solemn and wise in appearance

Derived Formsowlishly, adverbowlishness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for owlish

owlish

adj.

1610s, from owl + -ish. Related: Owlishly; owlishness.