owl [OE] The name of the owl probably comes from an imitation of its call. The bird was traditionally taken as a symbol of wisdom—in classical times it was associated with the Greek goddess Athene—and to call someone owlish [L16th] suggests that they look solemn or wise. It is a nocturnal bird, and its name is also used for someone, a ‘night owl’ [L16th], who habitually goes to bed late and feels more lively in the evening. The opposite is a *lark. In the 17th century owling was the term for smuggling wool or sheep out of England, to avoid paying tax. Although possibly a different word, it may also come from the bird’s nocturnal habits, since such smuggling would have been done at night.