Obs. exc. dial. [app. a corruption of churr-owl: see CHURN sb. and v.] The Goatsucker or Night-Jar; called also Jarr Owl.
1674. Ray, Eng. Birds, 83. Churn-owl, Fern Owl or Goat sucker, Caprimulgus.
1769. G. White, Selborne, xxii. (1789), 62. One of these churn-owls came and settled on the cross of that little straw edifice and began to chatter.
1832–5. Jesse, Gleanings (1843), 297.
1879. Shropsh. Word-Bk., Churn-owl, obsolescent.
1883. in Hampsh. Gloss.
