Noun: moorhen 'mûr,hen [N. Amer], 'mor,hen or 'mûr,hen [Brit]
- Black gallinule that inhabits ponds and lakes
"The moorhen paddled quietly through the reeds with its chicks";
- Gallinula chloropus
- Female red grouse
"The moorhen blended into the heather on the moor"
Derived forms: moorhens
Type of: gallinule, gorcock [UK, dialect], Lagopus scoticus, marsh hen, moorbird, moor-bird, moorfowl, moorgame, pukeko [NZ], red grouse, swamphen, water hen
Part of: Gallinula, genus Gallinula
Encyclopedia: Moorhen