gallinaceous

[gal-uh-ney-shuhs]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the group of mainly heavy-bodied, ground-feeding domestic and game birds that comprise the order Galliformes, which includes all species of chicken, turkey, grouse, pheasant, quail, and partridge.

gallinaceous

/ ˌɡælɪˈneɪʃəs /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Galliformes, an order of birds, including domestic fowl, pheasants, grouse, etc, having a heavy rounded body, short bill, and strong legs

2. of, relating to, or resembling the domestic fowl

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallinaceous¹

First recorded in 1775–85; from Latin gallīnāceus “pertaining to poultry,” equivalent to gallīn(a) “hen” (derivative of gallus “cock, rooster”) + -āceus adjective suffix; -aceous

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallinaceous¹

C18: from Latin gallīnāceus, from gallīna hen

Example Sentences

This gallinaceous volume — possibly his 32nd, who can keep count? — includes a gallery of his paintings of chickens, anecdotes from his remarkable life and recipes that are more story than instruction.

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And the gusto with which the last stanza turns the idea on its head, and rejects, after all, the precautionary measure of counting chickens, is highly satisfying: "A gallinaceous fixation beclouds the mind."

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The order Rasores includes the numerous species of gallinaceous birds, and the term is applied to them from their habit of scratching in the ground in search of food.

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In common with the family to which they belong, they have the hind toe of the foot placed on a level with the others, thus resembling the pigeons, and unlike the majority of gallinaceous birds.

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Turkey, turk′i, n. a large gallinaceous bird, a native of America—not Turkey.—ns.

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