moorhen
Americannoun
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Also called water hen. a common species of gallinule, Gallinule chloropus, of nearly worldwide distribution.
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any of several related gallinules.
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Chiefly British. the female red grouse.
noun
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a bird, Gallinula chloropus, inhabiting ponds, lakes, etc, having a black plumage, red bill, and a red shield above the bill: family Rallidae (rails)
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the female of the red grouse
Etymology
Origin of moorhen
First recorded in 1250–1300, moorhen is from the Middle English word mor-hen. See moor 1, hen
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
An entry on the moorhen comes as a goofy dating profile.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
In another part of the zoo, a chimpanzee captures a moorhen chick and handlers negotiate its release.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2018
It was a Hawaiian stilt, which like the duck, moorhen and coot, is a federally endangered species.
From New York Times ● May 13, 2011
Suddenly, a moorhen flew onto the edge of the nest.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
The moorhen fluffed herself over her remaining eggs, using her beak to tuck them in beneath her.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
