Definition of "owlet"

And in faith Sir unlesse your hospitalitie doe releeve us, wee are like to wander with a sorrowfull hey ho, among the owlets, & Hobgoblins of the Forrest […]

c. 1590 (date written), G[eorge] P[eele], The Old Wiues Tale. […], London: […] Iohn Danter, for Raph Hancocke, and Iohn Hardie, […], published 1595

Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting,Lizard’s leg and owlet’s wing,For a charm of powerful trouble,Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene i]

[…] and bold with joy,Forth from his dark and lonely hiding-place(Portentous sight) the owlet, ATHEISM,Sailing on obscene wings athwart the noon,Drops his blue-fringed lids, and holds them close,And, hooting at the glorious sun in heaven,Cries out, “where is it?”

1798, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Fears in Solitude‎, London: J. Johnson, pages 4–5

Noticeable features found in many of the owlets are two markings that often appear on the upper forewings.

2023, John Himmelman, Discovering Moths, page 39