A bird of prey that catches mice; especially †(a) the short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (obsolete); (b) US the hen harrier, Circus cyaneus; (c) US the rough-legged buzzard, Buteo lagopus (rare).
Origin
Old English; earliest use found in Corpus Glossary. From mouse + hawk.
Definition of mouse hawk in US English:
mouse hawk
nounˈmaʊs hɔːk
A bird of prey that catches mice; especially †(a) the short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (obsolete); (b) US the hen harrier, Circus cyaneus; (c) US the rough-legged buzzard, Buteo lagopus (rare).
Origin
Old English; earliest use found in Corpus Glossary. From mouse + hawk.