▪ I. tu-whit, v.
(tuːˈhwɪt)
[See next.]
intr. To hoot as an owl.
| 1902 A. Lang in Longm. Mag. Dec. 99 He heard the owls towhitting and towhooing from the wood. |
▪ II. tu-whit, tu-whoo, int. (n.)
(tuːˈhwɪt tuːˈhwuː)
Also 6–9 to-, too-, -who, -hoo; 9 towhoo towhoo; etc.
[Imitative.]
An imitation of the call of an owl. See also prec. and next.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 928 Then nightly sings the staring Owle Tu-whit to-who. A merrie note. 1594 Lyly Moth. Bomb. iii. iv, To whit to whoo, the Owle does cry. 1607 Barley-Breake (1877) 9 Too whit, too whoo, cries out the broad-fac'd Owle. 1797 Coleridge Christabel i. 3 The owls have awakened the crowing cock; Tu—whit!― Tu—whoo! |
b. n. The utterance of this cry; the hoot of an owl; also, the use of the expression in literature.
| 1830 Tennyson 2nd Song to Owl i, Thy tuwhits are lull'd I wot, Thy tuwhoos of yesternight. Ibid. ii, With a lengthen'd loud halloo, Tuwhoo, tuwhit, tuwhit, tuwhoo-o-o. 1862 Borrow Wild Wales liii, What resemblance does Shakespear's to-whit-to-whoo bear to the cry of the owl? none whatever. |
c. Hence as a name for the owl. nonce-use.
| 1604 W. Terilo Fr. Bacon's Proph. (Percy Soc.) 8 And olde to whit to whoo Did watch the winter night. |