I.a night-owl, an owl, a bird sacred to Minerva: “noctua, quod noctu canit ac vigilat,” Varr. L. L. 5, § 76 Müll.; Paul. ex Fest. pp. 174 and 175 ib.; Plaut. Men. 4, 2, 90: “noctuarum dimicatio,” Plin. 10, 17, 19, § 39: “garrula,” id. 18, 35, 87, § 362: “seros exercet noctua cantūs,” Verg. G. 1, 403.
noctŭa , ae, f. nox,