Scops

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A small owl with prominent feathered tufts on its head that resemble ears, typically found in Europe and Asia
2. Any of various diminutive owls characterized by pointed ear-like feathers and nocturnal hunting habits
3. A tiny owl species bearing distinctive head tufts, belonging to the genus Otus and widely distributed across temperate regions

Etymology: "Scops" is the plural of "scop," an Old English word for a poet or bard who composed and recited verse, often at a lord's hall. The singular appears in "Beowulf," where a scop performs for the Danish court. The word comes from the Germanic root behind "shape," so a scop was, at root, a maker of verse.