moorhen

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moor·hen

(mo͝or′hĕn′)

n. Chiefly British

A widely distributed gallinule (Gallinula chloropus) having a black body and a red and yellow bill that extends up onto the forehead.

[moor + hen.]

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.

moorhen

(ˈmʊəˌhɛn; ˈmɔː-)

1. (Animals) a bird, Gallinula chloropus, inhabiting ponds, lakes, etc, having a black plumage, red bill, and a red shield above the bill: family Rallidae (rails)

2. (Animals) the female of the red grouse

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

moor•hen

(ˈmʊərˌhɛn)

n.

a common species of gallinule, Gallinula chloropus, of nearly worldwide distribution.

[1250–1300]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	moorhen - black gallinule that inhabits ponds and lakes Gallinula chloropus Gallinula, genus Gallinula - gallinules gallinule, swamphen, water hen, marsh hen - any of various small aquatic birds of the genus Gallinula distinguished from rails by a frontal shield and a resemblance to domestic hens
	2.	moorhen - female red grouse Lagopus scoticus, moorbird, moor-bird, moorfowl, moorgame, red grouse - reddish-brown grouse of upland moors of Great Britain

Translations

poule d’eau

gallinella d'acqua

moorhen

[ˈmʊəhen] N → polla f de agua

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

moorhen

n → Teichhuhn nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

moorhen

[ˈmʊəˌhɛn] n → gallinella d'acqua

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

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References in classic literature ?

Silent, like sorrowing children, the birds have ceased their song, and only the moorhen's plaintive cry and the harsh croak of the corncrake stirs the awed hush around the couch of waters, where the dying day breathes out her last.

View in context

Juvenile moorhens and coot have had to avoid the same dangers as young little grebes, although it always appears that a good number survive into adulthood.

GO WILDwith eric paylor

"More concerning was the amount of very small pieces of plastic and polystyrene trapped in natural debris surrounding nesting habitat for birds and moorhens."

Soar Boat club volunteers embark on river clean up; Bizarre items discovered during two kilometre blitz

Many different types of birds were on show including chaffinches, robins, mallards, moorhens and goldfinches.

Make feathered friends

Also spotted in the Biec wetlands were 1,000 black-winged stilts, 500 common terns, 25 grey herons, 10 little grebes, seven great egrets and five moorhens.

More bird species seen in Pangasinan wetlands

Moorhens are most likely to be found around ponds, lakes, streams or rivers and breed in lowland areas.

Bird found dead in bag hanging from tree

Sarehole Mill is a popular destination for families visiting the 18th century watermill while the idyllic pond is a haven for wildlife including herons, mallards and moorhens.

Travellers at mill that inspired Tolkien told to hobb-it

Coots, moorhens and kingfishers can be seen, along with carp, frogs and toads.

Walk OF THE WEEK; Going out v Staying in; Making the most of your free time

As well as swans there are kingfishers, coots, moorhens and mallards.

Swan found dead at lake

There is adjoining grazing land and the small lake, formed by the damming of an eastern tributary of the Honeycrook Burn, offers habitat to moorhens, coots and swans.

Country hotel has so much to offer

ETON LIFE CARVED MEAT FILE NOTE TIDES SURGE LOW WIRES URGES DIETS WISER OWL OYSTER POT CRESTA RUN TOP STOREY URN RECAST TEAM LEADERS GILDED PANEL DEALER'S MATE PLANE GLIDED NIGHT FEASTS SHAVEN FACE SAFEST THING CAFE HAVENS RUSHES ON NUCLEAR REACTOR NO USHERS CREATOR UNCLEAR NOTICES BOARD TAKES DEPOSIT BROAD SECTION TOPSIDE STEAK SWAY HIPS TRUST HORMONES SHIP YAWS MOORHENS STRUT DEADLIER STRAIN RECRUITS' BEARDS TRAINS DERAILED BREAD'S CRUSTIER TEARS SHEET SEND LENA THESE RATES!

Transposing phrases part 2

The whole of this sector was nothing but bleak hills and valleys and the only life around was the wild ducks and moorhens. It was one of the most desolate places that I had been in in France.