gray hen
- noun
- /ɡreɪ hɛn/
- US
:
gallina gris
- The gray hen is often more camouflaged than the brightly colored male grouse.
Examples
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During the breeding season, the gray hen searches for a safe nesting site.
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A flock of gray hens was spotted feeding at the forest edge.
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The gray hen is known for its unique plumage.
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I saw a gray hen in the field yesterday.
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During the breeding season, the gray hen searches for a safe nesting site.
-
A flock of gray hens was spotted feeding at the forest edge.
-
The gray hen is often more camouflaged than the brightly colored male grouse.
Synonyms
A female black grouse with brown-grey feathers
Surface Forms
Morphology
gray + hen
The phrase is a simple adjective+noun combination where 'gray' describes color and 'hen' denotes a female bird, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it means a female bird with grayish plumage. Although it refers to a specific species (female black grouse), the overall meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and follows a common compositional pattern.
Etymology
Gray hen is a name that comes from the bird's color: the female of the 'black grouse' is a plain, brownish gray bird, so people called her a gray hen to show she is the 'female' rather than the colorful male. That's why gray hen means 'the female of the black grouse' today.
