barn owl

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

mottled buff and white owl often inhabiting barns and other structures; important in rodent controlSynonyms: barn owl Tyto alba

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Barn \Barn\ (b[aum]rn), n. [OE. bern, AS. berern, bern; bere barley + ern, [ae]rn, a close place. [root]92. See Barley.] A covered building used chiefly for storing grain, hay, and other productions of a farm. In the United States a part of the barn is often used for stables. [1913 Webster]

Barn owl (Zool.), an owl of Europe and America (Aluco flammeus, or Strix flammea), which frequents barns and other buildings.

Barn swallow (Zool.), the common American swallow (Hirundo horreorum), which attaches its nest of mud to the beams and rafters of barns. [1913 Webster]