owl(n.) "raptorial nocturnal bird of prey of the family Strigidæ," Middle English oule, from Old English ule "owl," from Proto-Germanic *uwwalon- (source also of Middle Dutch, Dutch uil, Old High German uwila, German Eule, Old Norse ugla), a diminutive of PIE root *u(wa)l-, which is imitative of a wail or an owl's hoot (compare howl and Latin ulula "owl;" also see ululation). https://www.etymonline.com/word/owl

Europeans just imitated its noise. What a lazy name compared to cat-headed eagle.

[–] purpleworm@hexbear.net 16 points 1 month ago (3 children)

That's also where mao (cat) comes from, I'm pretty sure

[–] Des@hexbear.net 12 points 1 month ago

mao first catboy confirmed mao-wave catgirl-salute

[–] happybadger@hexbear.net 9 points 1 month ago

The near-universal European word now, it appeared in Europe as Latin catta (Martial, c. 75 C.E.), Byzantine Greek katta (c. 350) and was in general use on the continent by c. 700, replacing Latin feles. It is probably ultimately Afro-Asiatic (compare Nubian kadis, Berber kadiska, both meaning "cat").

Huh, I never knew cat had such a mysterious etymology. I read through a few posts and can't trace it beyond "maybe it comes from some African language and refers to a region? shrug-outta-hecks "

[–] rubber_chicken@hexbear.net 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

[–] RNAi@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago

I heard the ancient egyptian word for cat was "miew"