Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Hen?

\Hen\, n. [AS. henn, hen, h[ae]n; akin to D. hen, OHG. henna, G. henne, Icel. h?na, Dan. h["o]na; the fem. corresponding to AS. hana cock, D. haan, OHG. hano, G. hahn, Icel. hani, Dan. & Sw. hane. Prob. akin to L. canere to sing, and orig. meaning, a singer. Cf. {Chanticleer}.] (Zo["o]l.) The female of the domestic fowl; also, the female of grouse, pheasants, or any kind of birds; as, the heath hen; the gray hen. Note: Used adjectively or in combination to indicate the female; as, hen canary, hen eagle, hen turkey, peahen. {Hen clam}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A clam of the {Mactra}, and allied genera; the sea clam or surf clam. See {Surf clam}. (b) A California clam of the genus {Pachydesma}. {Hen driver}. See {Hen harrier} (below). {Hen harrier} (Zo["o]l.), a hawk ({Circus cyaneus}), found in Europe and America; -- called also {dove hawk}, {henharm}, {henharrow}, {hen driver}, and usually, in America, {marsh hawk}. See {Marsh hawk}. {Hen hawk} (Zo["o]l.), one of several species of large hawks which capture hens; esp., the American red-tailed hawk ({Buteo borealis}), the red-shouldered hawk ({B. lineatus}), and the goshawk.