Definition of MOORHEN

moorhen

Plural: moorhens

Noun

  • black gallinule that inhabits ponds and lakes
  • female red grouse
  • Any of various medium-sized water birds of the genus Gallinula, of the rail family, that feed in open water margins.
  • A female red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scotica.
  • pl. -S the female moorfowl

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English morhen, perhaps from Old English *mōrhenn, an alteration of Old English worhenn (compare coordinate masculine term mōrhana, a possible corruption of worhana (“pheasant”)), equivalent to moor + hen.

Synonyms

Gallinula chloropus, gallinule, marsh hen, moggy, stank hen, stankie

Scrabble Score: 12

moorhen: valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
moorhen: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
moorhen: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

moorhen is a valid Words With Friends word