moorhen

UK: /ˈmʊəˌhɛn/ US: (mŏŏr′hen′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

moor•hen  (mŏŏr′hen′), n. 

1. Birds Also called water hen. a common species of gallinule, Gallinule chloropus, of nearly worldwide distribution.
2. Birds any of several related gallinules.
3. Birds, British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] the female red grouse.

• Middle English mor-hen. See moor¹, hen 1250–1300

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

moorhen / ˈmʊəˌhɛn ˈmɔː-/ noun

1. 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. the female of the red grouse