grouse

¹ American  

[grous] / graʊs /

noun

plural

grouse, grouses

1. any of numerous gallinaceous birds of the subfamily Tetraoninae.

2. British. the red grouse.

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grouse ² American  

[grous] / graʊs /

verb (used without object)

groused, grousing

1. to grumble; complain.

   I've never met anyone who grouses so much about his work.

   Synonyms:

   fuss, fret, gripe

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noun

1. a complaint.

grouse ³ American  

[grous] / graʊs /

adjective

Australian Slang.

1. excellent; great; wonderful.

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grouse ¹ British  

/ ɡraʊs /

verb

1. (intr) to grumble; complain

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noun

1. a persistent complaint

grouse ² British  

/ ɡraʊs /

noun

1. any gallinaceous bird of the family Tetraonidae, occurring mainly in the N hemisphere, having a stocky body and feathered legs and feet. They are popular game birds See also black grouse red grouse

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adjective

1. slang excellent

Other Word Forms

• grouseless adjective
• grouselike adjective
• grouser noun

Etymology

Origin of grouse¹

First recorded in 1525–35; origin uncertain

Origin of grouse²

First recorded in 1885–1900; originally British army slang; further origin uncertain; grouch

Origin of grouse³

First recorded in 1920–25; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Young people grouse that employers are monitoring their productivity with “surveillance state technologies” and expect them to “do six jobs in a 40-hour workweek.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

There was nothing I could grouse about, and I simply admired a good game played.

From Salon • Oct. 29, 2025

Experts believe that thousands of animals and other wildlife were killed in the flames - including curlew, grouse chicks and hares.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

What’s the point of working so hard at this if I’m not honored? he might grouse.

From Slate • Oct. 10, 2025

Businessmen wear heeled boots that never feel a stirrup, and men of great wealth who have houses in Paris and regularly shoot grouse in Scotland refer to themselves as little old country boys.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck