owlish

American  

[ou-lish] / ˈaʊ lɪʃ /

adjective

1. resembling or characteristic of an owl.

   His thick glasses give him an owlish appearance.

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ˈowlish British  

/ ˈaʊlɪʃ /

adjective

1. like an owl

2. solemn and wise in appearance

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Other Word Forms

• owlishly adjective
• owlishness noun

Etymology

Origin of owlish

First recorded in 1605–15; owl + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

For many, the owlish but hard-driving Socialist and Catholic was simply “Mr. Europe.”

From Seattle Times

And when deploying adaptation clips, the filmmaker wisely sticks to Alec Guinness’ perfectly owlish Smiley.

From Los Angeles Times

Short and thick-bodied, dressed in a bespoke suit and round, owlish glasses, Leo looked like a character from an Agatha Christie mystery.

From Salon

A cattleman with owlish glasses and a pinched smile, the real Hale had nurtured such close relations with the local Native American population that he was revered, Grann writes, “as King of the Osage Hills.”

From New York Times

Nellie is a “short, owlish woman. … almost dwarfed by the enormous bouquet of white lilies and pink roses that was thrust into her arms.”

From Seattle Times