ˈlich-owl
Also 6–7 like-owle.
[f. lich + owl.]
The screech-owl, so called because its cry was supposed to portend death in the house.
| 1585 Higins Junius' Nomenclator 56 Bubo, a shrichowle: a likeowle. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 283 The Otis is a bird lesse than the Like-Owle,..hauing two plumed ears standing vp aloft. 1604 Drayton Owle 302 The shreeking Litch-Owle that doth never cry, But boding death. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 268/1 The little Horn-Owle..termed Lich Owls..because Prognosticaters of Peoples death, when they scrietch about there Houses. 1898 Watts-Dunton Aylwin (1900) 32/2 Then came the shadow of a lich-owl, as it whisked past us towards the apple-trees. |