moorhen

[ moor-hen ]

noun

1. Also called water hen. a common species of gallinule, Gallinule chloropus, of nearly worldwide distribution.
2. any of several related gallinules.
3. Chiefly British. the female red grouse.

moorhen

/ ˈmʊəˌhɛn; ˈmɔː- /

noun

1. a bird, Gallinula chloropus, inhabiting ponds, lakes, etc, having a black plumage, red bill, and a red shield above the bill: family Rallidae (rails)
2. the female of the red grouse

Word History and Origins

Origin of moorhen¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, moorhen is from the Middle English word mor-hen. See moor ¹, hen

Example Sentences

Around 200 Gough buntings and Gough moorhens will be taken into temporary captivity to reduce the risk of them accidentally eating the poison.

From The Guardian

I saw water birds, moorhens, kingfishers, and swans.

From Literature

I distinctly remember him showing me great crested grebes, coots and moorhens; birds that stir and linger in my memory to this day.

From The Guardian

I run Swillowing workshops, where swimmers are given a Wind In The Willows persona to embody as they enter the water, afterwards recording their experiences as rats, moles and moorhens.

From The Guardian

Coots, which are close relatives of the moorhen, are protected under wildlife laws, making it illegal to disturb them while nesting.

From BBC