hen
[ hen ]
/ hɛn /
noun
the female of the domestic fowl.
the female of any bird, especially of a gallinaceous bird.
Informal.
an unpleasant, usually older woman, especially one considered to be a busybody or gossip.
Origin of hen
before 1000; Middle English; Old English
hen(n) (compare Old English
hana cock); cognate with German
Henne; akin to Latin
canere to sing
OTHER WORDS FROM hen
hen·like, adjective hen·nish, adjectiveWords nearby hen
hempen,
hempseed,
hempstead,
hempy,
hemstitch,
hen,
hen fruit,
hen harrier,
hen hawk,
hen night,
hen of the woods
Example sentences from the Web for hen
British Dictionary definitions for hen
hen
/ (hɛn) /
noun
the female of any bird, esp the adult female of the domestic fowl
the female of certain other animals, such as the lobster
informal
a woman regarded as gossipy or foolish
Scot dialect
a term of address (often affectionate), used to women and girls
scarce as hen's teeth
extremely rare
Word Origin for hen
Old English
henn; related to Old High German
henna, Old Frisian
henne
Idioms and Phrases with hen
hen
see mad as a hornet (wet hen); scarce as hen's teeth.