water hen

water hen
noun
1. a coot found in North America
• Hypernyms: ↑coot
• Member Holonyms: ↑Fulica, ↑genus Fulica
2. any of various small aquatic birds of the genus Gallinula distinguished from rails by a frontal shield and a resemblance to domestic hens
• Syn: ↑gallinule, ↑marsh hen, ↑swamphen
• Hypernyms: ↑aquatic bird
• Member Holonyms: ↑Gallinula, ↑genus Gallinula

* * *

noun
: any of various birds of the family Rallidae (as a coot); as
c. : any of several Australian birds of the genus Tribonyx

* * *

1. moorhen (def. 1).
2. the American coot, Fulica americana.
Also, waterhen.
[1520-30]

* * *

water hen,
1. = moor hen. (Cf. ↑moor hen)
2. the coot of America.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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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 — 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 — noun Date: circa 1529 any of various birds (as a coot or gallinule) of the rail family …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 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

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