Owenite
(Ow"en*ite) n. A follower of Robert Owen, who tried to reorganize society on a socialistic
basis, and established an industrial community on the Clyde, Scotland, and, later, a similar one in Indiana.
Owher
(O"wher) adv. [AS. ahwær.] Anywhere. [Obs.] "If he found owher a good fellow." Chaucer.
Owing
(Ow`ing) p. p. & a. [Used in a passive sense for owed (AS. agen. See Own).]
1. Had or held under obligation of paying; due.
There is more owing her than is paid.
Shak. 2. Had or experienced as a consequence, result, issue, etc.; ascribable; — with to; as, misfortunes are
often owing to vices; his failure was owing to speculations.
Owl
(Owl) n. [AS. ule; akin to D. uil, OHG. uwila, G. eule, Icel. ugla, Sw. ugla, Dan. ugle.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any species of raptorial birds of the family Strigidæ. They have large eyes and ears, and a
conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye. They are mostly nocturnal in their habits.
Some species have erectile tufts of feathers on the head. The feathers are soft and somewhat downy.
The species are numerous. See Barn owl, Burrowing owl, Eared owl, Hawk owl, Horned owl, Screech
owl, Snowy owl, under Barn, Burrowing, etc.
In the Scriptures the owl is commonly associated with desolation; poets and story-tellers introduce it as a
bird of ill omen. . . . The Greeks and Romans made it the emblem of wisdom, and sacred to Minerva,
— and indeed its large head and solemn eyes give it an air of wisdom. Am. Cyc.
2. (Zoöl.) A variety of the domestic pigeon.
Owl monkey (Zoöl.), any one of several species of South American nocturnal monkeys of the genus
Nyctipithecus. They have very large eyes. Called also durukuli. — Owl moth (Zoöl.), a very large
moth The expanse of its wings is over ten inches. — Owl parrot (Zoöl.), the kakapo. — Sea owl
(Zoöl.), the lumpfish. — Owl train, a cant name for certain railway trains whose run is in the nighttime.
Owl
(Owl), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Owled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Owling.]
1. To pry about; to prowl. [Prov. Eng.]
2. To carry wool or sheep out of England. [Obs.]
This was formerly illegal, and was done chiefly by night.
3. Hence, to carry on any contraband trade. [Eng.]
Owler
(Owl"er) n. [From Owl, v. i.] One who owls; esp., one who conveys contraband goods. See
Owling, n. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] T. Brown.
Owlery
(Owl"er*y) n.; pl. Owleries An abode or a haunt of owls.
Owlet
(Owl"et) n. [Dim. of owl. Cf. Howlet.] (Zoöl.) A small owl; especially, the European species and
the California flammulated owlet
Owlet moth (Zoöl.), any noctuid moth.
Owl-eyed
(Owl"-eyed`) a. Having eyes like an owl's.
