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moorfowl

moorfowl

9.9
A reddish-brown bird that lives on upland moors in Great Britain
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : perdiz roja
  • The moorfowl is known for its distinctive reddish-brown plumage.

Examples

  • The moorfowl is well-camouflaged against the reddish grasses of the upland moors.

  • Gamekeepers in Scotland work to protect the moorfowl population on the estates.

  • During our walk across the moor, we spotted a moorfowl hiding among the heather.

  • Look at that beautiful moorfowl over there!

  • During our walk across the moor, we spotted a moorfowl hiding among the heather.

  • Gamekeepers in Scotland work to protect the moorfowl population on the estates.

  • The moorfowl is well-camouflaged against the reddish grasses of the upland moors.

Synonyms

grouse
vsmoorfowl
11 8.1

A plump bird with feathered legs found in northern countries and hunted for food

is the narrower British upland reddish brown species rather than the whole group
Lagopus scoticus
vsmoorfowl
  • Specialized
9.9

A reddish-brown grouse that lives on moors in Great Britain

is the common general name rather than the scientific label
red grouse
vsmoorfowl
  • UK
9.0

A reddish-brown bird that lives on high moors in Britain and is often hunted

is the broader common term for that same bird
moorbird
vsmoorfowl
  • Archaic
9.9

A reddish-brown bird that lives on upland moors in Great Britain

is the same meaning but uses a different traditional form
moor-bird
vsmoorfowl
  • Archaic
9.9

A reddish-brown grouse that lives on the moors of Great Britain

is the same meaning but written without a hyphen
moorgame
vsmoorfowl
  • UK
9.9

A reddish-brown bird that lives on the moors in Britain

is the neutral common name without hunting emphasis

Surface Forms

moorfowl singular
moorfowls plural

Morphology

moorfowl = moor + fowl (transparent) = moor + fowl

The meaning is a straightforward compound 'moor' + 'fowl' meaning a bird found on moors, which learners can infer from the components.

Etymology

Moorfowl comes from the simple English parts moor ('open high land') and fowl ('bird'), so it literally means a 'bird of the moor'. That's why it refers to the reddish-brown grouse that lives and hides on the moors.