moorhen

Meaning

1. Any of various medium-sized water birds of the genus Gallinula, of the rail family, that feed in open water margins.
2. (British) A female red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scotica.

Synonyms

gallinule

Gallinula chloropus

common moorhen

moorcock

rail

red grouse

moorfowl

moorgame

moor-bird

moorbird

waterhen

chicken

🐔

fawl

coot

cuddy

Translations

Gallinula chloropus

waterhoen

Teichralle

Teichhuhn

poule d’eau

polla de agua

gallinella d'acqua

νερόκοτα

gallineta de agua

polla gris

gallinule poule d’eau

Blässhuhn

Gallinula

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmuɹ.hɛn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: morhen

Inherited from Old English: *mōrhenn

Inherited from Old English: wōrhenn

In summary

From Middle English morhen, perhaps from Old English *mōrhenn, an alteration of Old English worhenn (compare coordinate masculine term mōrhana, a possible corruption of worhana (“pheasant”)), equivalent to moor + hen.