jungle fowl

or jun·gle·fowl

[ juhng-guhl foul ]

noun

1. any of several gallinaceous birds of the genus Gallus, found in India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia: G. gallus red jungle fowl is believed to be the primary ancestor of the domestic chicken.

jungle fowl

noun

1. any small gallinaceous bird of the genus Gallus, of S and SE Asia, the males of which have an arched tail and a combed and wattled head: family Phasianidae (pheasants). G. gallus ( red jungle fowl ) is thought to be the ancestor of the domestic fowl
2. any of several megapodes, esp Megapodius freycinet

Word History and Origins

Origin of jungle fowl¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

It all began, the consensus seems to be, with the red jungle fowl.

From The Daily Beast

In the sal forests the young jungle-fowl have now mostly hatched out and are following the old hens, or feeding independently.

From Project Gutenberg

But, brothers, he brought not so much as a jungle-fowl home for more than a week, and I was fain to know what the sahib hunted.

From Project Gutenberg

We found the jungle fowl wild and hard to kill even where they were seldom hunted.

From Project Gutenberg

We were at the Nam-ting camp at the beginning of the mating season for the jungle fowl.

From Project Gutenberg

Jungle fowl were abundant and pigeons exceedingly so, but we saw no ducks along the river and only two cormorants.

From Project Gutenberg