hen tracks

plural noun

, Slang.

1. illegible or barely legible handwriting.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hen tracks¹

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

I wrote it down in the "hen tracks" of short-hand which are now difficult to decipher.

From Project Gutenberg

At the first rehearsal of Goldman's own band, the players found their parts a mass of hen tracks in red ink, detailed instructions for phrasing, etc.

From Time Magazine Archive

"By jigger, now, I wonder what those hen tracks mean?" he uttered musingly.

From Project Gutenberg

And right where the mat had lain—so near that we could reach out and take it—was a letter; and the letter was addressed, in big scrawling characters that looked very much indeed like "hen tracks," to Miss Bessie Rathbun, Featherdale.

From Project Gutenberg

“If you didn’t know my name was Braxton, I’ll bet you wouldn’t recognize these hen tracks.”

From Project Gutenberg