Dictionary

moorhen en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈmʊɹˌhɛn/ (General-American)
• /ˈmʊəɹˌhɛn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

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.

Meanings

1. Any of various medium-sized water birds of the genus Gallinula, of the rail family, that feed in open water margins.
   • The pond was another favourite place to visit. Moorhens strutted from the neighbouring bushes, and a bevy of Muscovy ducks, a study in black, white and red, waddled from the farmyard hard by to enjoy a refreshing splash. 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 217:
2. (UK) A female red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scotica.

Forms

Deriveds

European moorhen · lesser moorhen · dusky moorhen · common moorhen

Relateds

moorfowl · moorcock · moorbird

Synonyms

marsh hen · stank hen · moggy · gallinule · stankie

Translations (38)

el νερόκοτα (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · bg водна кокошка (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · sh mlakuša (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · ast gallineta (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · pam patirik-tirik (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · cmn 黑水雞 /黑水鸡 (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · gd cearc-uisge (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · ga cearc uisce (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · hu vízityúk (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · cy iâr ddŵr (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · dv އޮޅުވަލު ކަނބިލި (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · ro găinușă (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · fr poule d'eau (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · fi liejukana (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · pt frango-d'água (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · ro găinușă de baltă (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · nrf poule dg'ieau (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · gl arcea (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · nl waterhoen (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · sq zogë (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · br douryar (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · sh zelenonoga guša (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · vec sfoio (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · de Teichralle (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · ru камы́шница (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · gl pita cega (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · pl kokoszka (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · vec viatàra (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · eo galinolo (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · sv rörhöna (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · ca polla d'aigua (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · pt galinha-d'água (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · it gallinella d'acqua (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · es gallineta de agua (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · cs slípka (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · ast andarríos (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · gl galiñola (water birds of the genus Gallinula) · gd cearc-fhraoich (water birds of the genus Gallinula)