shriek owl

2 definitions found

shriek owl - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Shriek \Shriek\, n.
     A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as
     is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like.
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           Shrieks, clamors, murmurs, fill the frighted town.
                                                    --Dryden.
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     Shriek owl. (Zool.)
     (a) The screech owl.
     (b) The swift; -- so called from its cry.
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  Swift \Swift\, n.
     1. The current of a stream. [R.] --Walton.
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     2. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged,
        insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidae. In form
        and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are
        destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing
        birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to
        the humming birds.
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     Note: The common European swift (Cypselus apus syn.
           Micropus apus) nests in church steeples and under the
           tiles of roofs, and is noted for its rapid flight and
           shrill screams. It is called also black martin,
           black swift, hawk swallow, devil bird,
           swingdevil, screech martin, and shriek owl. The
           common American, or chimney, swift (Chaetura pelagica
           ) has sharp rigid tips to the tail feathers.
           It attaches its nest to the inner walls of chimneys,
           and is called also chimney swallow. The Australian
           swift (Chaetura caudacuta) also has sharp naked tips
           to the tail quills. The European Alpine swift
           (Cypselus melba) is whitish beneath, with a white
           band across the breast. The common Indian swift is
           Cypselus affinis. See also Palm swift, under
           Palm, and Tree swift, under Tree.
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     3. (Zool.) Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine
        lizard.
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     4. (Zool.) The ghost moth. See under Ghost.
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     5. [Cf. Swivel.] A reel, or turning instrument, for winding
        yarn, thread, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural.
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     6. The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine.
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