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Definition of barn owl

barn owl

Plural:barn owls
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barn owl Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A widely distributed, pale-colored nocturnal bird of prey (family Tytonidae) native to regions worldwide, characterized by a distinctive heart-shaped facial disc, a lack of ear tufts, and a raspy, eerie call.

Example

"The farmer was pleased to see a barn owl roosting in the rafters, knowing it would help control the local rodent population."

• Nearby Words

bark anole
barleria
barley
barn owl
barn swallow
barnacle
barnafoss

Word Origin & Etymology

The common name derives from the species' long-standing habit of roosting and nesting in old barns, church towers, and ruined agricultural outbuildings rather than relying strictly on natural tree hollows.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Barn owl. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/barn owl
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