marsh hen
- noun
- /mɑrʃ hɛn/
- Specialized
:
gallineta
- We spotted a marsh hen gliding quietly through the reeds.
Examples
-
I spotted a marsh hen near the pond.
-
Birdwatchers often hope to catch a glimpse of a marsh hen during their spring migration.
-
The wetlands provide an ideal habitat for the elusive marsh hen.
-
The marsh hens are often seen at dusk.
-
As the sun set, I spotted a marsh hen pecking at the water's edge in the wetland.
-
The nature reserve is home to many birds, including the elusive marsh hen that thrives in the reeds.
-
We heard the distinctive calls of marsh hens while kayaking through the quiet marshes.
Synonyms
19
8.5
A medium-sized dark water bird with a white beak and forehead that looks like a duck
A medium-sized water bird with a gray body and white bill often found in lakes and ponds
A medium-sized water bird in North America with dark feathers and a white bill
A medium water bird with dark feathers that swims in lakes and ponds
A small water bird like a hen with a bright patch on its forehead that lives in marshes
A small bird that lives near water like a moorhen or coot
Surface Forms
Morphology
marsh + hen
The meaning 'a small marsh-dwelling bird' is directly and compositionally derived from 'marsh' (wetland) + 'hen' (a bird), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer a bird associated with marshes. This follows a common noun+noun compounding pattern used cross-linguistically to indicate habitat or association, although identifying the exact species (e.g., coot) is extra knowledge.
Etymology
Marsh hen comes from the two words marsh, a wet place with tall grass, and hen, a farm chicken. People used the word 'hen' for small, chicken-like birds that live in marshes, so the name paints a picture of a small bird in the reeds and now means 'a small marsh-dwelling bird'.