barn-owl

A barn-owl perches silently on a wooden fence post at dusk.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of owl: "barn-owl" refers to any bird of the family Tytonidae, characterized by a heart-shaped facial disc, long legs, and a pale, often mottled plumage. They are typically nocturnal and hunt small mammals, often found roosting in barns, old buildings, or tree hollows.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • A barn-owl flew silently over the field at dusk. (A bird of the Tytonidae family was hunting.)
  • The old hayloft is a perfect nesting site for a barn-owl. (The structure provides a roosting place for this specific owl species.)

Advanced Usage

• "barn-owl call": the distinctive, screeching sound made by barn-owls, as opposed to the hoot of other owls.
  • We heard a barn-owl call in the night, a sharp hiss rather than a deep hoot. (The vocalization is unique to this species.)

Variants and Related Words

• Barn owl (n): a common alternative spelling without the hyphen, meaning the same bird.
  • The barn owl is known for its ghostly appearance. (The same species is referred to.)
• Tyto alba (n): the scientific name for the common barn-owl species.
  • Tyto alba is one of the most widespread owl species. (The Latin binomial for the barn-owl.)

Synonyms

• Screech owl: sometimes used loosely, but technically refers to different species in the genus ; not a true synonym.
• Church owl: an old-fashioned term for a barn-owl, referencing its habit of roosting in church steeples.

Related Idioms

• "wise as a barn-owl": a rare or poetic idiom implying wisdom, though barn-owls are not typically associated with wisdom in folklore (the great horned owl or tawny owl is more common).
  • He was as wise as a barn-owl, knowing every hidden corner of the forest. (A figurative expression of deep, silent knowledge.)