howler
howler Lexical Profile
howler Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A glaring and often amusing mistake or blunder, particularly in speech, writing, or a test.
"The newspaper had to print an immediate retraction after publishing an absolute howler on its front page."
A large New World monkey of the genus Alouatta, native to South and Central American forests, noted for its loud, roaring territorial calls.
"We woke up at dawn to the booming, guttural calls of a howler echoing through the rainforest canopy."
A person, animal, or thing that howls, often used to describe an exceptionally strong gust of wind or a severe storm.
"The incoming storm was a real howler, rattling the windows and tearing shingles off the old roof."
• Rhymes for howler
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the verb 'howl' combined with the agent suffix '-er'. The sense referring to a glaring mistake originated in British university slang during the late 19th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.