prairie chicken

[ prair-ee chik-uhn ]

noun

1. either of two North American gallinaceous birds of western prairies, Tympanuchus cupido greater prairie chicken, or T. pallidicinctus lesser prairie chicken, having brown, black, white, and rufous plumage: both species, once abundant, have diminished greatly in number and are classified as vulnerable.
2. sharp-tailed grouse.

prairie chicken

noun

1. either of two mottled brown-and-white grouse, Tympanuchus cupido or T. pallidicinctus, of North America

Word History and Origins

Origin of prairie chicken¹

An Americanism dating back to 1685–95