ˈchurn-owl Obs. exc. dial.
[app. a corruption of churr-owl: see churr n. and v.]
The Goatsucker or Night-Jar; called also Jarr Owl.
| 1674 Ray Eng. Birds 83 Churn-owl, Fern Owl or Goat sucker, Caprimulgus. 1769 G. White Selborne xxii. (1789) 62 One of these churn-owls came and settled on the cross of that little straw edifice and began to chatter. 1832–5 Jesse Gleanings (1843) 297. 1879 Shropsh. Word-Bk., Churn-owl, obsolescent. 1883 in Hampsh. Gloss. |