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Glite Dictionary
grayhen

grayhen

9.9
A female black grouse with brown-grey feathers
  • noun
  • /ˈɡreɪˌhɛn/
  • US
translation icon : gallina gris
  • We spotted a grayhen quietly feeding near the edge of the forest.

Examples

  • Unlike the noisy cocks, the grayhen tends to stay hidden among the underbrush.

  • The grayhen is known for its distinctive plumage.

  • The grayhen is much less showy than the black-colored male.

  • Many grayhens were spotted in the forest yesterday.

  • We spotted a grayhen quietly feeding near the edge of the forest.

  • Unlike the noisy cocks, the grayhen tends to stay hidden among the underbrush.

  • The grayhen is much less showy than the black-colored male.

Synonyms

gray hen
vsgrayhen
  • US
8.3

A female large wild bird with grey brown feathers like a grouse

is the same term but shows British spelling variant

Surface Forms

grayhen singular
grayhens plural
greyhens plural
greyhen singular

Morphology

grayhen = gray + hen (semi-transparent) = gray + hen

While 'gray' and 'hen' are clear, the specific meaning of a female black grouse is specialized.

Etymology

Grayhen comes from the common words gray, the color, and hen, meaning 'female bird', and it is often spelled greyhen in British English. So a grayhen is the female of the black grouse, a bird with brownish-grey feathers, and the name reminds you it is the grey female.