moorfowl

American  

[moor-foul] / ˈmʊərˌfaʊl /

noun

Chiefly British.

plural

moorfowls,

plural

moorfowl

1. the red grouse.

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moorfowl British  

/ ˈmɔː-, ˈmʊəˌfaʊl /

noun

1. (in British game laws) an archaic name for red grouse Compare heathfowl

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Etymology

Origin of moorfowl

First recorded in 1500–10; moor ¹ + fowl

Example Sentences

Yet here is a man, a little crazed perhaps, who finds dueling a pitiable farce and who would rather watch the love-antics of moorfowl at sunrise than slaughter them.

From Time Magazine Archive

Blackcock and moorfowl, bushels of snipe, black puddings, white puddings, and pyramids of pancakes, formed the second course.

From Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Volume 6 by Lockhart, J. G. (John Gibson)

"Only think, sisters," observed Miss Grizzy in an undertone, "what reflections we should have to make upon ourselves if the child was to resemble a moorfowl!"

From Marriage by Ferrier, Susan Edmonstone

‘Perhaps upon his mouldering breast Some spitefu’ moorfowl bigs her nest.’

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

Indeed, it has been reported that when he was young he sometimes "leistered a kipper, and made a shift to shoot a moorfowl i' the drift."

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 20, No. 576, November 17, 1832 by Various