uil

Etymology

From Dutch uil, from Middle Dutch ule, from Old Dutch *ūwila, from Proto-Germanic *uwwalǭ.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

uil (plural uile, diminutive uiltjie)

1. owl, bird of the order Strigiformes

Etymology

From Middle Dutch ule, from Old Dutch *ūwila, *ūwala, *ūla, from Proto-Germanic *uwwalǭ, diminutive of *uwwǭ (“eagle-owl”), of imitative origin or a variant of *ūfaz, *ūfǭ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /œy̯l/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: uil
• Rhymes: -œy̯l

Noun

uil m or f (plural uilen, diminutive uiltje n)

1. owl, bird of the order Strigiformes

   's Avonds zitten er uilen in de boom bij de buren. ― In the evening there are owls in the neighbours' tree.

2. noctuoid, owl moth, owlet

   Veel uilen hebben typerende uilvlekken. ― Many owlet moths have characteristic wing marks.

3. (dialectal) butterfly (generic term)

   Deze kleurrijke uiltjes eten nectar en uitwerpselen. ― These colourful butterflies eat nectar and excrement.

4. (figuratively) idiot

   Synonyms: dombo, domkop, dommerik, domoor, dwaas, ezel, ezelsveulen, idioot, kalf, kalverkop, kneus, leeghoofd, oelewapper, oen, rund, steenezel, sufferd, sufkop, sukkel, stommeling, uilskuiken

   Die uil van Minerva spreidt zich over zijn vleugel bij het vallen van de avond. ― That nutter from the Oxford Union lies down to mount his grand piano when the night falls.

5. (gay slang, dated) male heterosexual

Anagrams

• lui