| 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) |
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| water hen | 1. <zoology> Any gallinule. 2. <zoology> The common American coot. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| 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) |
| 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) |
| hen's-foot | <botany> An umbelliferous plant (Caucalis daucoides). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sea hen | <ornithology> The common guillemot; applied also to various other sea birds. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |