Pronunciation
- IPA: /hɛn/
hen (plural hens)
- A female chicken (Gallus gallus), particularly a sexually mature one kept for its eggs.
- A female of other bird species, particularly a sexually mature female fowl.
- (uncommon) A female fish or crustacean.
- (figuratively, derogatory) A woman, particularly
- 1785, Francis Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue:
- Hen, a woman. A cock and hen club; a club composed of men and women.
- (UK, informal) A bride-to-be, particularly in the context of her "hen night" festivities.
- 1785, Francis Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue:
- (UK, informal) A hen night.
- (Scotland, informal) An affectionate term of address used to women or girls.
- Don't cry, hen. Everything will be all right.
- (figuratively, pejorative, uncommon) A henlike person of either sex.
- The hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), a bivalve shellfish.
- (female bird) hen-bird
- (bride-to-be) (US) bachelorette
- (M. mercenaria) hard clam, hen-clam, hen-fish
- French: poule
- German: Henne, Legehenne, Huhn
- Italian: gallina
- Portuguese: galinha
- Russian: ку́рица
- Spanish: gallina
- German: Weibchen (generic term for the female of any animal)
- Italian: gallina
- Portuguese: ave-fêmea, pássara
- Russian: ку́рочка
- Spanish: ave hembra
hen (hens, present participle henning; past and past participle henned)
- Alternative form of mother-hen
hen (not comparable)
- (dialectal) Hence.
hen (hens, present participle henning; past and past participle henned)
- (dialectal) To throw.
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