moorcock

American  

Chiefly British.

1. the male red grouse.

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moorcock British  

/ ˈmʊəˌkɒk, ˈmɔː- /

noun

1. the male of the red grouse

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Etymology

Origin of moorcock

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Example Sentences

Oh, oh! the dark, the dark, and never more the sun shining on the bonny blooms of dark Darruach, never mair the white lambs running, and the gleam on the wing of the moorcock.

From The McBrides A Romance of Arran by Sillars, John

Beneath the fern the moorcock sleeps,   And twisted adders lie; Back to his rock the night-bird creeps,   Nor gives his wonted cry.

From Poems, &c. (1790) Wherein It Is Attempted To Describe Certain Views Of Nature And Of Rustic Manners; And Also, To Point Out, In Some Instances, The Different Influence Which The Same Circumstances Produce On Different Characters by Baillie, Joanna

But first going to a place he well knew to lap he scented the moorcock, and gave chase.

From Bevis The Story of a Boy by Jefferies, Richard

You would like it, tramping knee-deep in the heather, to see the moorcock rise whirring at your feet; you would like to set sail with the fisher folk after the silver herring.

From The Trail of '98 A Northland Romance by Service, Robert W. (Robert William)

Gorcock, gor′kok, n. the moorcock or red grouse:—fem.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various