A note about The Cuddlywumps Chronicles

This blog is written and maintained by Miss Cuddlywumps, a fluffy-tailed calico cat who is both classically educated and familiar with mysteries. She receives creative input from the Real Cats and clerical assistance from She of Little Talent (old SoLT, a.k.a. Roby Sweet). Comments or complaints should be addressed to Miss C rather than to old SoLt (Ms. Sweet). Ms. Sweet accepts no responsibility for Miss C's opinions.

Friday, March 9, 2018

Words with Webster: Cat Owl, Plus Friendly Fill-Ins


We have two fun Friday features for you today. First up is Real Cat Webster, who has a feathered word to share. After that, it’s on to Friendly Fill-Ins!

Words with Webster

Words with Webster


Hi, everybody! It’s me, Real Cat Webster. Welcome to Words with Me. Today’s word is “cat owl.” I picked this word because I saw it in the dictionary and thought it was neat. Anyway, a cat owl is “an owl having ear tufts (as the great horned owl, long-eared owl, or screech owl),” according to my favorite dictionary, Merriam-Webster’s. The tufts make them look kind of like cats.

The Oxford English Dictionary has this 1854 quote from H. D. Thoreau:
An unmistakable cat-owl … with the most harsh and tremendous voice … responded. (Walden, 292)
I guess I’ve never done the word “cat,” but it’s been around since about ad 700 and ultimately comes from the Late Latin cattus. Mommy says we'll tell you more in another post sometime soon.

Eastern Screech Owl. Via Adobe Stock.
Does this eastern screech owl look
like a cat? We think it looks like Webster!
Photo via Adobe Stock.
As for “owl,” that comes to us from Old English ule, which is from Proto-Germanic uwwalon-. That is from the Proto-Indo-European root u(wa)l-, which is supposed to sound like the sound an owl makes. One of the Latin words for “owl” is ulula, another word that imitates an owl sound. (This is all according to the Online Etymology Dictionary.) Click here to see and hear an eastern screech owl calling.


Great horned owl photo. Via Adobe Stock.
What about his great horned owl ?
Photo via Adobe Stock.


Friendly Fill-InsFriendly Fill-Ins

And now it’s time for Friendly Fill-Ins, from 15andmeowing and McGuffy’s Reader. They are a fun way to learn a little bit about the authors of the blogs you read. The first two questions, answered by Real Cat Paisley this week, are from Ellen of 15andmeowing, and the next two, answered by old SoLT, are from Annie of McGuffy’s Reader.

Real Cat Paisley’s answers:
1. Before you go to sleep, you need to take a bath by licking your whole body. Who wants to go to bed all dirty?

2. After you eat, you need to wash your face and whiskers, because it’s bad form to go around with cat food on your nose or somewhere.

Old SoLT’s answers:
3. Winter is my least-favorite season. I am ready for it to end.

4. Spring always makes me feel hopeful and energized. I love the warmer temps and longer days and seeing the flowers open. It’s also one of the happiest times to be in the Washington, DC area because the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin are beyond beautiful. The couple of times I’ve gone there in person have been amazing.


Cherry blossoms with Washington Monument. Via Adobe Stock.
Cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin, with the Washington Monument in the background.
Photo via Adobe Stock.

9 comments:

  1. What a cool Owl!! Great Fill-ins!!

    The Florida Furkids

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  2. Thank you for the interesting lesson Webster. And thanks to Paisley and your mom for joining the fill-ins, great answers. I can tell that you are a neat freak Paisley, that is a good thing. I am glad Spring is here too. We went to DC to see the cherry blossoms in 2011, they were beautiful, bit not quite as nice as this photo. Have a great weekend! XO

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  3. Owls are so cool! I had noticed that some kinda look cat-like, but I figured it was just me, since I like both owls and cats! Winter is awful, as much as I try to find positives (ooh, it's looks pretty outside, with a foot of snow...groan). This year, I've joined the #snap265 challenge, where I post a photo of something every day of the year. It's helped me try to find beauty in the cold.

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  4. dood....we dunno.......that BURD thing & all......tell mom tho thanx for sharin
    that foto oh all de treez....talk bout total lee awesum !!! wunder how manee piez
    her could make outta em ;)

    ☺☺♥♥

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  5. Yes, that does look like you in that tree, Webster...meohoo :D Great answers too! Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend :) <3

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  6. I'd never heard that term before. I hate winter too - I love the Great Lakes region - but I couldn't tolerate more winter!

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  7. How have I never heard the term cat owl??? Thanks, Webster! Paisley, Mudpie filled in her answers yesterday (although they won't post until tomorrow) and she said the same thing for #1! Tortie wisdom :)

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  8. I've never heard of a cat-owl either! You're always teaching us new things, Webster.
    Aren't those cherry blossoms spectacular? We are so ready for spring too!
    Jan & the crew at Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  9. I love your answers! You made us smile overe here! Hugs!

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