Houlet

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic term for a young owl, especially one that has recently left the nest and is still learning to hunt
2. A small or young owl, an old name for the fledgling of the owl family that is not yet fully grown
3. The young of an owl, a bird still covered in down or early feathers and not yet able to fly well

Etymology: "Houlet" is a variant spelling of "howlet," the older English name for an owl, and it is the same word in a different spelling. The name is imitative of the bird's cry, the hooting or howling call that gave owls their identity in English long before "owl" itself became standard. Over time the name came to be used for the young bird as well, so a houlet is the chick of the owl, still in the nest or only just fledged.

Synonyms: owlet