Owling

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Owl \Owl\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Owled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Owling}.]
     1. To pry about; to prowl. [Prov. Eng.]
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     2. To carry wool or sheep out of England. [Obs.]


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     Note: This was formerly illegal, and was done chiefly by
           night.
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     3. Hence, to carry on any contraband trade. [Eng.]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Owling \Owl"ing\, n. [From {Owl}, v. i.] (O. Eng. Law)
     The offense of transporting wool or sheep out of England
     contrary to the statute formerly existing. --Blackstone.
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From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  OWLING, Eng. law. The offence of transporting wool or sheep out of the 
  kingdom. 
       2. The name is said to owe its origin to the fact that this offence was 
  carried on in the night, when the owl was abroad.