grouse

¹ American  

[grous] / graʊs /

noun

plural

grouse, grouses

1. any of numerous gallinaceous birds of the subfamily Tetraoninae.

2. British. the red grouse.

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grouse ² American  

[grous] / graʊs /

verb (used without object)

groused, grousing

1. to grumble; complain.

   I've never met anyone who grouses so much about his work.

   Synonyms:

   fuss, fret, gripe

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noun

1. a complaint.

grouse ³ American  

[grous] / graʊs /

adjective

Australian Slang.

1. excellent; great; wonderful.

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grouse ¹ British  

/ ɡraʊs /

verb

1. (intr) to grumble; complain

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noun

1. a persistent complaint

grouse ² British  

/ ɡraʊs /

noun

1. any gallinaceous bird of the family Tetraonidae, occurring mainly in the N hemisphere, having a stocky body and feathered legs and feet. They are popular game birds See also black grouse red grouse

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adjective

1. slang excellent

Other Word Forms

• grouseless adjective
• grouselike adjective
• grouser noun

Etymology

Origin of grouse¹

First recorded in 1525–35; origin uncertain

Origin of grouse²

First recorded in 1885–1900; originally British army slang; further origin uncertain; grouch

Origin of grouse³

First recorded in 1920–25; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

One can almost hear Hawks grouse in response: “Rich? Profound? I was just trying to entertain people.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025

There was nothing I could grouse about, and I simply admired a good game played.

From Salon • Oct. 29, 2025

What’s the point of working so hard at this if I’m not honored? he might grouse.

From Slate • Oct. 10, 2025

While the main purpose is to encourage new heather growth for grouse and other animals to feed on, it also gets rid of excess vegetation which can fuel wildfires.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2025

And every night, as the old man left for his room at the Y, he would grouse, “You oughta go to school.”

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli