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

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)

The moorcock flew straight across the meadow to another withy-bed, and then disappeared.

From Bevis The Story of a Boy by Jefferies, Richard

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

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

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

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