| hen | <ornithology> The female of the domestic fowl; also, the female of grouse, pheasants, or any kind of birds; as, the heath hen; the gray hen. Used adjectively or in combination to indicate the female; as, hen canary, hen eagle, hen turkey, peahen. Hen clam. One of several species of large hawks which capture hens; especially, the American red-tailed hawk (Buteo borealis), the red-shouldered hawk (B. Lineatus), and the goshawk. Origin: AS. Henn, hen, haen; akin to D. Hen, OHG. Henna, G. Henne, Icel. Hna, Dan. Hona; the fem. Corresponding to AS. Hana cock, D. Haan, OHG. Hano, G. Hahn, Icel. Hani, Dan. & Sw. Hane. Prob. Akin to L. Canere to sing, and orig. Meaning, a singer. Cf. Chanticleer. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| hen's-foot | <botany> An umbelliferous plant (Caucalis daucoides). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| hen-cluck stertor | A breath sound like the clucking of a hen, sometimes heard in cases of postpharyngeal abscess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hen-hearted | Cowardly; timid; chicken-hearted. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| henbane | <botany> A plant of the genus Hyoscyamus (H. Niger). All parts of the plant are poisonous, and the leaves are used for the same purposes as belladonna. It is poisonous to domestic fowls; whence the name. Called also, stinking nightshade, from the fetid odour of the plant. See Hyoscyamus. Origin: Hen + bane. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| henbit | <botany> A weed of the genus Lamium (L. Amplexicaule) with deeply crenate leaves. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| hendecagon | <geometry> A plane figure of eleven sides and eleven angles. Alternative forms: endecagon. Origin: Gr. Eleven + angle: cf. F. Hendecagone. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| hendecane | <chemistry> A hydrocarbon, C11H24, of the paraffin series; so called because it has eleven atoms of carbon in each molecule. Synonym: endecane, undecane. Origin: Gr. "endeka eleven. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| hendecatoic | <chemistry> Undecylic; pertaining to, or derived from, hendecane; as, hendecatoic acid. See: Hendecane. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Henderson, Lawrence | <person> U.S. Biochemist, 1879-1942. See: Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Henderson-Hasselbalch equation | <chemistry> The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is the equation: PH = pK + log ([A-]/[HA]) Where pH is the acidity or alkalinity of the buffer solution, pK is the negative logarithm of the equilibrium constant (Kd) for the ionisation of the acid form (A-) of the compound used to buffer the solution for the reaction HA = H+ +A-, [A-] is the molar concentration of the ionised form of the buffer compound, and [HA] is the molar concentration of the nonionised form of the buffer compound. (09 Oct 1997) |
| Hendersonula toruloidea | A species of black yeast capable of producing chronic infections of the nails as well as of the skin of the feet. (05 Mar 2000) |
| henfish | <zoology> A marine fish; the sea bream. A young bib. See Bib. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Henke's space | Retropharyngeal space. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Henke, Wilhelm | <person> German anatomist, 1834-1896. See: Henke's space. (05 Mar 2000) |
| water hen | 1. <zoology> Any gallinule. 2. <zoology> The common American coot. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| sea hen | <ornithology> The common guillemot; applied also to various other sea birds. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| daker hen | <zoology> The corncrake or land rail. Origin: Perh. Fr. W. Crecial the daker hen; crec a sharp noise (creg harsh, hoarse, crechian to scream) + iar hen; or cf. D. Duiken to dive, plunge. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |