hen
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Related to Hens: Cornish hens
hen
(hĕn)n.
1. A female bird, especially the adult female chicken.
2. The female of certain aquatic animals, such as an octopus or lobster.
3. Often Offensive Slang A usually older woman, especially one who is engaged in conversation with other women.
[Middle English, from Old English; see kan- in Indo-European roots.]
hen′nish adj.
hen′nish·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
hen
(hɛn)n
1. (Zoology) the female of any bird, esp the adult female of the domestic fowl
2. (Zoology) the female of certain other animals, such as the lobster
3. informal a woman regarded as gossipy or foolish
4. dialect Scot a term of address (often affectionate), used to women and girls
5. scarce as hen's teeth extremely rare
[Old English henn; related to Old High German henna, Old Frisian henne]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
hen
(hɛn)n.
1. the female of the domestic fowl.
2. the female of any bird, esp. of a gallinaceous bird.
3. the female of various crustaceans, as the lobster.
4. Slang. a woman, esp. a busybody or gossip.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English hen(n) (compare Old English hana cock); c. Old High German henna; akin to Latin canere to sing]
hen′like`, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  hen - adult female chicken Gallus gallus, chicken - a domestic fowl bred for flesh or eggs; believed to have been developed from the red jungle fowl cackler - a hen that has just laid an egg and emits a shrill squawk mother hen - a hen with chicks layer - a hen that lays eggs pullet - young hen usually less than a year old |
| 2. | hen - adult female bird bird - warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings | |
| 3. | hen - flesh of an older chicken suitable for stewing | |
| 4. | hen - female of certain aquatic animals e.g. octopus or lobster female - an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa) |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
hen
nounRelated words
collective noun brood
collective noun brood
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
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hen
[hen]Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
hen
(hen) noun1. the female farmyard fowl. Hens lay eggs.gallina
ˈhen party noun a party for women only, often just before one of them gets married (for men see stag party). reunión de mujeres; despedida de soltera
ˈhenpecked (-pekt) adjective (of a man) ruled by his wife. a henpecked husband.dominado por su mujer, calzonazos
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
hen
→ gallinaMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
hen
n. gallina; [broth] caldo de.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012