HEN

hen

(noun) female of certain aquatic animals e.g. octopus or lobster

hen

(noun) adult female bird

hen, biddy

(noun) adult female chicken

hen

(noun) flesh of an older chicken suitable for stewing

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

hen (plural hens)

A female chicken (Gallus gallus), particularly a sexually mature one kept for its eggs.

Coordinate term: cock

A female of other bird species, particularly a sexually mature female fowl.

Coordinate term: cock

(uncommon) A female fish (especially a salmon or trout) or crustacean.

Synonym: henfish

Coordinate terms: cock, cockfish

(figuratively, derogatory) A woman, particularly

(UK, informal) A bride-to-be, particularly in the context of her "hen night" festivities.

(UK, informal) A hen night.

(Scotland, informal) An affectionate term of address used to women or girls.

(figuratively, pejorative, uncommon) A henlike person of either sex.

The hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), a bivalve shellfish.

Synonyms

• (female bird): hen-bird

• (bride-to-be): (US) bachelorette

• (M. mercenaria): hard clam, hen-clam, hen-fish

Verb

hen (third-person singular simple present hens, present participle henning, simple past and past participle henned)

Alternative form of mother-hen

Etymology 2

Adverb

hen (not comparable)

(dialectal) Hence.

Etymology 3

Verb

hen (third-person singular simple present hens, present participle henning, simple past and past participle henned)

(dialectal) To throw.

Anagrams

• NHE, Neh.

Source: Wiktionary

Hen, n. Etym: [AS. henn, hen, hæn; akin to D. hen, OHG. henna, G. henne, Icel. hna, Dan. höna; 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.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: 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. (Zoöl.) (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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition