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ˈscreech-owl
Also 7 skreech-, 8 scriech-.
[f. screech v.; altered form of scritch-owl.]
1. a. A name for the Barn Owl (Aluco flammeus Fleming, Strix Linn.), from its discordant cry, supposed to be of evil omen.
1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. iv. 21 The time when Screech⁓owles cry, and Bandogs howle. 1612Dekker London Triumphing B 1 b, Let Bats and Skreech-Owles murmure at bright Day. 1711Addison Spect. No. 7 ⁋2 A Screech-Owl at Midnight has alarmed a Family, more than a Band of Robbers. 1773G. White Selborne, To Barrington 8 July, From this screaming probably arose the common people's imaginary species of screech-owl, which they superstitiously think attends the windows of dying persons. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. III. vi. vi, Long-winded, unmelodious as the screech-owl's, sounds that prophetic voice. 1872Calverley Fly Leaves (1884) 5 And the screech-owl scares the peasant As he skirts some churchyard drear.
b. A small North American owl of the genus Otus, esp. O. asio.
1671J. Ogilby America 147 The Birds both common and peculiar [to New England] are thus recited:..The long-liv'd Raven, th' ominous Screech-Owl. 1812A. Wilson Amer. Ornithol. V. 83 Red Owl..is..well known by its common name, the Little Screech Owl. 1884Cent. Mag. Nov. 121 The screech-owl would shake and shiver in the depths of the wood. 1949Amer. Forests Oct. 23/2 The weird call of the more or less familiar screech owl is probably the best known of all the owls. 1960[see jumby-bird]. 1975Islander (Victoria, B.C.) 2 Nov. 3/1 The screech owl is the one I hear and see most often.
2. transf. Applied to a bearer of evil tidings, or one who presages misfortune.
1606Shakes. Tr. & Cr. v. x. 16 Let him that will a screech⁓oule aye be call'd, Goe in to Troy, and say there, Hector's dead. 1819Scott Ivanhoe xxx, ‘Vile murderous hag!’ replied Front-de-Bœuf; ‘detestable screech-owl!’ 1896J. Barlow Mrs. Martin's Comp., etc. 50 To be pitied for havin' to put up wid the ould screech-owl's foolish talk.
3. attrib.
1796Wolcot (P. Pindar) Satire Wks. 1812 III. 409 Of Screech-owl satire Pitt has shorn the wings. 1815Scott Guy M. ii, The harsh and dissonant voice, and the screech⁓owl notes to which it was exalted when he was exhorted to pronounce more distinctly. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. III. vi. vi, Then, secondly, his rejected screech-owl Oration. |
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