Uhu
eagle owl
Definition & meaning
The word Uhu refers to the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), which is one of the largest and most powerful species of owl in the world. It is known for its distinctive ear tufts and deep, booming hooting call, which sounds like the German word "U-hu".
In a colloquial or secondary context, Uhu is a very common German proprietary eponym used to refer to any brand of all-purpose liquid adhesive or glue stick. Because of the brand's dominance in the German market, the name is used generically for glue in everyday speech.
Grammar & Word origin
The word is a masculine noun: der Uhu (plural: die Uhus).
- Etymology (Bird): The name is onomatopoeic, derived directly from the sound of the bird's call.
- Etymology (Glue): The brand name was established by August Fischer in 1932. He chose the name "Uhu" because it was short, memorable, and coincidentally, many other successful German brands at the time were named after birds.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms (Bird):
Synonyms (Glue):
Antonyms: There are no direct antonyms for these terms.
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Examples
Der Uhu fliegt lautlos durch die Nacht.noun
The eagle owl flies silently through the night.
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