water hen

noun

: any of various birds (such as a coot or gallinule) of the rail family

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1520, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of water hen was circa 1520

Dictionary Entries Near water hen

Cite this Entry

“Water hen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20hen. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!