snowy owl

American

noun

a diurnal, Arctic and subarctic owl, Nyctea scandiaca, having white plumage with dark brown markings.

snowy owl British

noun

a large owl, Nyctea scandiaca, of tundra regions, having a white plumage flecked with brown

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of snowy owl

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Perched upon a wide oak table, among more strange items, Duane spied a snowy owl reading from a large open book.

From Literature

More importantly, even to a polar bear that puts napping and eating high on his priority list, here was a snowy owl nearby.

From Literature

He left the snowy owl standing onboard the Shipwreck in a confused state, with eyes slightly wider than they naturally were.

From Literature

“Fair enough,” said the snowy owl.

From Literature

The snowy owl went back to her studies, and Duane took his leave as quietly as possible so as to disturb her no further.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023