heath hen

[ heeth hen ]

noun

1. an American gallinaceous bird, Tympanuchus cupido cupido, closely related to the prairie chicken and once a common inhabitant of coastal heaths from New Hampshire to Virginia: extensively hunted, especially during the Colonial period, the heath hen has been regarded extinct since 1932.
2. the female of the black grouse.

heath hen

noun

1. another name for greyhen
2. a recently extinct variety of the prairie chicken

Word History and Origins

Origin of heath hen¹

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

They are working to bring back passenger pigeons and heath hens.

From Science News For Students

The heath hen could not be brought back, neither could the passenger pigeon.

From Project Gutenberg

She also weighs nearly one-third less than her mate, and is popularly termed the Heath Hen.

From Project Gutenberg

Let them remember the heath hen,—amply protected when entirely too late to save it from extinction!

From Project Gutenberg

This is the case of the heath hen and David's deer, of China.

From Project Gutenberg

Or he may have espied a heath hen on the shores of the Chesapeake.

From Project Gutenberg