(Science: ornithology) The female of the domestic fowl; also, the female of grouse, pheasants, or any kind of birds; as, the heath hen; the gray hen.
Used adjectively or in combination to indicate the female; as, hen canary, hen eagle, hen turkey, peahen. Hen clam.
One of several species of large hawks which capture hens; especially, the American red-tailed hawk (Buteo borealis), the red-shouldered hawk (B. Lineatus), and the goshawk.
Origin: as. Henn, hen, haen; akin to D. Hen, OHG. Henna, g. Henne, Icel. Hna, dan. Hona; the fem. Corresponding to as. Hana cock, D. Haan, OHG. Hano, g. Hahn, Icel. Hani, dan. & Sw. Hane. Prob. Akin to L. Canere to sing, and orig. Meaning, a singer. Cf. Chanticleer.