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; see also grouch

Origin of grouse³

First recorded in 1920–25; origin uncertain

Explanation

A grouse is a plump little bird. Don’t like birds? You can grouse, or complain, about them. The word grouse means both, but a grouse wouldn’t grouse because birds don’t whine. The word grouse has been around since the 1500s, referring to a ground-dwelling game bird with feathery feet and legs. It’s a bird, so people hunt it, which is maybe how grouse came to mean “to complain” a few hundred years later. You might grouse about the amount of homework your social studies teacher assigns or about the terrible weather or about the high price of gas. People will grouse about pretty much anything!

Example Sentences

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

From Salon • Oct. 29, 2025

Since the 1910s Egyptians had bemoaned the “notorious volatility of tomato prices” the way Americans grouse about fluctuating gasoline prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

Experts believe that thousands of animals and other wildlife were killed in the flames - including curlew, grouse chicks and hares.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

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

From Slate • Oct. 10, 2025

Plus, they had more clams stored and plenty of fish left in the trap and knew the locations of several ruffed grouse.

From "The River" by Gary Paulsen