gallinaceous

adjective

gal·li·na·ceous ˌga-lə-ˈnā-shəs

: of or relating to an order (Galliformes) of heavy-bodied largely terrestrial birds including the pheasants, turkeys, grouse, and the common domestic chicken

Examples of gallinaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

This gallinaceous volume — possibly his 32nd, who can keep count? — includes a gallery of his paintings of chickens, anecdotes from his remarkable life and recipes that are more story than instruction. —

Karen Heller, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin gallīnāceus "of domestic fowl," from gallīna "hen" (from gallus "cock" —perhaps going back to an onomatopoeic base *gal-, seen also in Celtic, Germanic, and Slavic— + īna, feminine noun suffix) + -āceous -aceous — more at call entry 1

First Known Use

1693, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of gallinaceous was in 1693

See more words from the same year