noun
Meaning 1
Birding, specifically to catch owls.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
owling
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈaʊ.lɪŋ/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
noun
Meaning 2
The smuggling of sheep or wool out of England.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A variation on planking in which a person is photographed or filmed squatting down in an unusual location.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Internet, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A small, juvenile, or baby owl; owlet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From owl + -ing. Smuggling of sheep is so called because it was done at night, when owls call.
Etymology tree English owl Proto-Indo-European *-lósder. Proto-Germanic *-ilaz Proto-Indo-European *-n̥kwo-der.? Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Germanic *-īnaz Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz ? Proto-Germanic *-ingaz Proto-Germanic *-ilingaz Proto-West Germanic *-ling Old English -ling Middle English -ling English -ling English owling From owl + -ling.