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Definition of laughing owl in English: laughing owlnoun 1US regional any of several North American owls, as the barred owl, Strix varia, or a screech owl (genus Megascops). 2An extinct owl of New Zealand, Sceloglaux albifacies, with a pale face, brown-streaked plumage, and a call likened to shrieking laughter, thought to have been exterminated in the mid 20th cent. (also called whekau). 3Australian either of two nightjars, the white-throated nightjar, Eurostopodus mystacalis, and the spotted nightjar, E. argus.
Origin Mid 19th century; earliest use found in The Southern Literary Messenger. Definition of laughing owl in US English: laughing owlnoun 1US regional any of several North American owls, as the barred owl, Strix varia, or a screech owl (genus Megascops). 2An extinct owl of New Zealand, Sceloglaux albifacies, with a pale face, brown-streaked plumage, and a call likened to shrieking laughter, thought to have been exterminated in the mid 20th cent. (also called whekau). 3Australian either of two nightjars, the white-throated nightjar, Eurostopodus mystacalis, and the spotted nightjar, E. argus.
Origin Mid 19th century; earliest use found in The Southern Literary Messenger. |