owlish

[ ou-lish ]

/ ˈaʊ lɪʃ /

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adjective

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

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Origin of owlish

First recorded in 1605–15; owl + -ish¹

OTHER WORDS FROM owlish

owl·ish·ly, adjectiveowl·ish·ness, noun

Words nearby owlish

owl, owl butterfly, owlet, owlet moth, owlet nightjar, owlish, owl monkey, owl's claws, owl's clover, own, own brand

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use owlish in a sentence

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
Shambling along in oversized suits, his eyes penetrating behind owlish specs, Dunne is now 82.
After Dominick|J. J. Berzelius|November 7, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Her head wore a close hood, disclosing a fringe of grey locks, owlish to see about features hooked for action.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith

His owlish German face screwed up in an expression of pain as the rolling of the ship racked his injured body.
The Viking Blood|Frederick William Wallace
"Don't be owlish, Evert; one is even more apt to step into them on a ground-floor," replied the aunt.
East Angels|Constance Fenimore Woolson
A beard, a pair of round owlish spectacles, and two ridiculous ear-muffs, left only a suggestion of face here and there.
Seven Keys to Baldpate|Earl Derr Biggers
Now for the frightful face with mouse's ears, winking owlish eyes streaming with fiendish fire!
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine -- Volume 55, No. 340, February, 1844|Various

British Dictionary definitions for owlish

owlish

/ (ˈaʊlɪʃ) /

adjective

like an owl

solemn and wise in appearance

Derived forms of owlish

owlishly, 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