saw-whet owl

[ saw-hwet, -wet ]
noun

  1. a very small North American owl, Aegolius acadicus, having streaked, brown plumage and lacking ear tufts.

Origin of saw-whet owl

1
An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; allegedly so called because its cry was likened to the noise of a saw being whetted

Words Nearby saw-whet owl

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use saw-whet owl in a sentence

  • The funny little saw-whet owl is one, and the snowflake, who loves to frolic in the snow, is another.

    The Children's Book of Birds | Olive Thorne Miller

Browse

  • #
  • aa
  • bb
  • cc
  • dd
  • ee
  • ff
  • gg
  • hh
  • ii
  • jj
  • kk
  • ll
  • mm
  • nn
  • oo
  • pp
  • qq
  • rr
  • ss
  • tt
  • uu
  • vv
  • ww
  • xx
  • yy
  • zz