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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CHURR OWL, n. comb. “The nightjar” (Abd. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 97), nightchurr or goatsucker, Caprimulgus europaeus.
[Swainson says the name of owl is applied from its loose plumage, large prominent eyes, and nocturnal habits, and churr from the strange whirring, jarring noise (something like that produced by a spinning-wheel) uttered by the bird on summer evenings.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Churr Owl n. comb.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/churr_owl>
