- water hen
- noun Date: circa 1529 any of various birds (as a coot or gallinule) of the rail family
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
water hen
Look at other dictionaries:
Water hen — Wa ter hen 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any gallinule. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) The common American coot. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
water hen — n. any of various birds (family Rallidae), including certain gallinules and the American coot (Fulica americana) … English World dictionary
water hen — noun 1. a coot found in North America • Syn: ↑American coot, ↑marsh hen, ↑mud hen, ↑Fulica americana • Hypernyms: ↑coot • Member Holonyms: ↑Fulica, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
water hen — Gallinule Gal li*nule, n. [L. gallinula chicken, dim. of gallina hen: cf. F. gallinule.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of several wading birds, having long, webless toes, and a frontal shield, belonging to the family {Rallidae}. They are remarkable for running… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
water hen — wa′ter hen or wa′ter•hen n. 1) orn moorhen 2) orn the American coot Fulica americana[/ex] • Etymology: 1520–30 … From formal English to slang
water hen — 1. moorhen (def. 1). 2. the American coot, Fulica americana. Also, waterhen. [1520 30] * * * bird species also called common gallinule. See gallinule. * * * … Universalium
water hen — noun the moorhen … Wiktionary
water-hen — n. Gallinule, spotted crake (Crex porzana or Gallinula chloropus) … New dictionary of synonyms
water-hen — … Useful english dictionary
water rail — Gallinule Gal li*nule, n. [L. gallinula chicken, dim. of gallina hen: cf. F. gallinule.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of several wading birds, having long, webless toes, and a frontal shield, belonging to the family {Rallidae}. They are remarkable for running… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
