Houdan

[ hoo-dan ]

noun

1. one of a French breed of chickens having a V -shaped comb, five toes, and mottled or black plumage.

Houdan

/ ˈhuːdæn /

noun

1. a breed of light domestic fowl originally from France, with a distinctive full crest

Word History and Origins

Origin of Houdan¹

First recorded in 1870–75; after Houdan, village near Paris where these hens were bred

Word History and Origins

Origin of Houdan¹

C19: named after Houdan, village near Paris where the breed originated

Example Sentences

The breed takes its name from the town of Houdan, the center of a district in which this is the common type of fowl.

From Project Gutenberg

A houdan cockerel with bedraggled speckly plumage and a ragged crest hanging over one eye struts from doorstep to doorstep.

From Project Gutenberg

Also the average degree of polydactylism is much greater in the Silkie than in the Houdan crosses.

From Project Gutenberg

It is also clear that the offspring of Silkie crosses are more apt to be polydactyl than those of Houdan crosses.

From Project Gutenberg

To summarize: "Potency," as measured by dominance of the extra-toed condition, is inherited, in the Houdan crosses at least.

From Project Gutenberg