noctua, ae, f. nox, a night-owl, an owl, a bird sacred to Minerva: noctua, quod noctu canit ac vigilat, Varr. L. L. 5, § 76 Mull.; 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.