Grouse

Grouse
Grouse Grouse (grous), n. sing. & pl. [Prob. after the analogy of mouse, mice, fr. the earlier grice, OF. griesche meor hen: cf. F. piegri[`e]che shrike.] (Zo["o]l.) Any of the numerous species of gallinaceous birds of the family {Tetraonid[ae]}, and subfamily {Tetraonin[ae]}, inhabiting Europe, Asia, and North America. They have plump bodies, strong, well-feathered legs, and usually mottled plumage. The group includes the ptarmigans ({Lagopus}), having feathered feet. [1913 Webster]

Note: Among the European species are the red grouse ({Lagopus Scoticus}) and the hazel grouse ({Bonasa betulina}). See {Capercaidzie}, {Ptarmigan}, and {Heath grouse}. Among the most important American species are the ruffed grouse, or New England partridge ({Bonasa umbellus}); the sharp-tailed grouse ({Pedioc[ae]tes phasianellus}) of the West; the dusky blue, or pine grouse ({Dendragapus obscurus}) of the Rocky Mountains; the Canada grouse, or spruce partridge ({D. Canadensis}). See also {Prairie hen}, and {Sage cock}. The Old World sand grouse ({Pterocles}, etc.) belong to a very different family. See {Pterocletes}, and {Sand grouse}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Grouse — Male Sage Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus Scientific classification Kingdom: Anima …   Wikipedia

  • grouse — [ gruz ] n. f. • grous 1771; mot écossais ♦ Coq de bruyère d Écosse. ⇒ lagopède, tétras. ● grouse nom féminin (anglais grouse) Lagopède d Écosse. grouse n. f. Lagopède des îles britanniques (Lagopus scoticus). ⇒GROUSE, subst. fém. Oiseau trapu de …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • grouse — grouse1 [grous] n. pl. grouse [Early ModE < ?] any of a family (Tetraonidae) of gallinaceous game birds with a round, plump body, feathered legs, feather covered nostrils, and mottled feathers, as the ruffed grouse or sage grouse grouse2… …   English World dictionary

  • Grouse — Grouse, v. i. 1. To seek or shoot grouse. [1913 Webster] 2. To complain or grumble; as, employees grousing about their incompetent boss. [informal] [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • grouse — grouse·ber·ry; grouse; grouse·less; …   English syllables

  • grouse — Ⅰ. grouse [1] ► NOUN (pl. same) ▪ a medium sized game bird with a plump body and feathered legs. ORIGIN perhaps related to Latin gruta or to Old French grue crane . Ⅱ. grouse [2] ► VERB ▪ complain pettily; grumble …   English terms dictionary

  • Grouse — (Grousewild, spr. graus ), s. Schneehuhn …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Grouse — (engl., spr. graus), das Schottenhuhn (s. Schneehuhn) …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • grouse — grouse1 grouseless, adj. grouselike, adj. /grows/, n., pl. grouse, grouses. 1. any of numerous gallinaceous birds of the subfamily Tetraoninae. Cf. black grouse, capercaillie, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse …   Universalium

  • grouse — [[t]gra͟ʊs[/t]] grouses, grousing, groused (The form grouse is used as the plural for meaning 1.) 1) N COUNT: oft N n A grouse is a wild bird with a round body. Grouse are often shot for sport and can be eaten. The party had been to the grouse… …   English dictionary

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