English

fernowl

From fern + owl.

A compound of fern + owl

Proto-Indo-European *p(t)erH-

…

Proto-Germanic *farnaz

Proto-West Germanic *farn

Old English fearn

Middle English fern

English fern

Proto-Indo-European *up- ‘to cry out’

Proto-Germanic *uwwulǭ

Proto-West Germanic *uwwulā

Old English ūle

Middle English howle

English owl

Today it means

noun A European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus).

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.