saw-whet owl
[saw-hwet, -wet]
- a very small North American owl, Aegolius acadicus, having streaked, brown plumage and lacking ear tufts.
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Origin of saw-whet owl
An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; allegedly so called because its cry was likened to the noise of a saw being whetted
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018