mud hen

Or mudhen

noun

1. any of various marsh-inhabiting birds, especially the American coot.

mud hen

noun

1. any of various birds that frequent marshes or similar places, esp the coots, rails, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of mud hen¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

As he stood by the water, two dark birds floated on the surface — American coots, or mud hens.

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Looking back, it is hard to imagine him shooting anything — even a mud hen in 1918.”

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The man in the stalled motorboat was gone; the mud hens were gone.

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Among so many peacocks, I was a mud hen.

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Then drawing the magic hook, he baited it with the Alae or sacred mud hen belonging to his Mother Hina.

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