Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
howlet

howlet

9.9
A small or young owl
  • noun
  • /ˈhaʊlɪt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : lechuza
  • As the sun set, a tiny howlet took its first flight, flapping its wings clumsily.

Examples

  • Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting… lizard's leg and howlet's wing.

    Macbeth (1971)

  • In the quiet woods, I spotted a small howlet perched on a branch, its big eyes blinking in the dim light.

  • The young howlet hooted softly, trying to mimic the adult owls nearby.

Synonyms

owlet
vshowlet
4 6.1

A young owl

is an old literary term meaning a small or young owl
little owl
vshowlet
  • UK
1 5.1

A small bird that hunts mice with a round head and yellow eyes

is an older literary term for small or young owls not the species

Surface Forms

howlet singular
howlets plural

Etymology

Howlet comes from the idea of the owl's cry, like the word howl, plus the small ending -let, so it can be thought of as a 'little howler'. That's why howlet was used for a small or young owl.