howler

[hou-ler] /ˈhaʊ lər/
noun
1.
a person, animal, or thing that howls.
2.
Also called howler monkey. any large, prehensile-tailed tropical American monkey of the genus Alouatta, the males of which make a howling noise: some species are endangered.
3.
a mistake, especially an embarrassing one in speech or writing, that evokes laughter; a very humorous mistake or a funny blunder.
4.
Informal. something that makes a piercing and often prolonged noise, as an alarm.
Origin
1790-1800; howl + -er1
Examples from the web for howler
  • No howler by the keeper, no muffed offside call, no melodramatic dive to set it all up with an unjustified free kick.
  • Spider monkeys swing from branches and vines, and howler monkeys bellow in the distance.
British Dictionary definitions for howler

howler

/ˈhaʊlə/
noun
1.
Also called howler monkey. any large New World monkey of the genus Alouatta, inhabiting tropical forests in South America and having a loud howling cry
2.
(informal) a glaring mistake
3.
(Brit) (formerly) a device that produces a loud tone in a telephone receiver to attract attention when the receiver is incorrectly replaced
4.
a person or thing that howls
Word Origin and History for howler

1832, "animal that howls," agent noun from howl (v.). Meaning "glaring blunder, ridiculous mistake" is first recorded 1890.

Slang definitions & phrases for howler

howler

noun

A very funny mistake, esp in something written or spoken rather solemnly; also, a serious and obvious mistake: His misuse of ''Rappaport'' for ''rapport'' was the season's howler (1844+)