Fwd: "Owlglass, n." - Word of the Day from the OED

[Dave Monroe]

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Subject: "Owlglass, n." - Word of the Day from the OED
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Your word for today is: Owlglass, n.

Owlglass, n.
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈaʊlglɑːs/, /ˈaʊlglas/,  U.S. /ˈaʊlˌglæs/
Forms: α.    15 Holliglass,   15 Howliglass,   15–16 Holeglas,   15–16
Howleglas,   15–16 Howleglase,   15–16 Howleglasse,   15–16
Howliglasse,   16 Howle-glas;   Sc.  pre-17 Holeglas,   pre-17
Holiglass,   pre-17 Holiglasse,   pre-17 Holyglas,   pre-17
Howliglass.  β.   15–16 Owleglasse,   16 Owlaglass,   16 Owleglas,
16 Owliglasse,   16 Owlyglasse,   16 18– Owlglass.
Etymology: <  owl n. + glass n.1, as English form of the name of Till
Eulenspiegel, a legendary German jester and trickster (perhaps based
on a historical figure of the early 14th cent.), after the apparent
meaning of the German name (taken to show Eule owl and Spiegel
mirror); some forms apparently show also the influence of howlet n.
and perhaps also of holly n. or holy adj. Compare Owl-spiegle n.,
Owlspiegle v.
Anecdotes about the pranks played by Till Eulenspiegel, especially on
figures of authority, appeared in print in German in c1510 (Ein
kurtzweilig Lesen von Dil Ulenspiegel)
 Now rare.
  (An Anglicization of the name of) the legendary German jester Till
Eulenspiegel, the type of a roguish fool; (hence) a jester; a buffoon.
Also occas. as a more general term of abuse.
α.
c1560   (title) A merye Ieste of a Man that was called Howleglas; and
of many meruaylous Thinges and Iestes that he dyd in his Lyfe, in
Eastlande and in many other Places.
c1560 Merye Ieste of Man Contents, How Holeglas was made a paryshe clarke.
1578  N. Baxter Complaint in  tr.  J. Calvin Lect. Prophet Jonas
Pref., We‥reade the booke of Arthurs knights‥And Guy of Warwicke,
Scoggins gests, and Gargantua, The court of Venus, Howleglasse,
Legenda Aurea.
1583  in  J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlv, Now
Holyglass, returning hame, To play the sophist thought no schame.
1589  T. Nashe Anat. Absurditie sig. Biiiv, These‥beeing in their
priuate Chambers the expresse imitation of Howliglasse.
1596  Blake Serm. in  G. Hickes Spirit of Popery (1680) 53 The
Privy-Council were Holliglasses, Cormorants, and men of no Religion.
1602  B. Jonson Poetaster iii. i. 139 What? doe you laugh,
Howleglas?‥you perstemptuous Varlet.
a1637  B. Jonson Fortunate Isles in Wks. (1640) II. 136 Whether you
would present him, with an Hermes, Or, with an Howle-glas.
a1639  J. Spottiswood Hist. Church Scotl. (1655) vi. 424 He was
charged‥that‥speaking of the councell,‥he had called them
Holliglasses, Cormorants & men of no religion.
β.
1618  J. Taylor in  T. Coryate Coriat to his Friends sig. E3, Then
shall the Fame which thou hast won on foot‥Ride on my best Inuention
like an Asse, To the amazement of each Owliglasse.
a1639  J. Ford Queen (1653) i. sig. Bv, Ye Dogrel, maungy scabbed
owlaglasses, I'll mawle yee, so I will.
1890  K. R. H. Mackenzie  (title) The Marvellous Adventures of Master
Tyll Owlglass.
1899 N.E.D. at Holliglass, An Owlglass, a buffoon.
1990  E. Morgan in Coll. Poems 568 Let Owlglass shuffle let laughter urge.

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