hen
/hɛn/
noun
- An adult female chicken, often kept for its eggs or meat.
- We have six hens and one rooster in the backyard coop.
- The hen laid an egg this morning.
- She fed the hens some grain before closing the coop for the night.
- The female of any bird species, especially game birds or waterfowl.
- The hen pheasant is less colorful than the male.
- The hen sparrow built a nest in the eaves of the house.
- A mother hen duck led her ducklings across the pond.
- A woman, especially one who is older or considered motherly (informal, sometimes affectionate or mildly derogatory).
- The neighborhood hens gathered on the porch to chat.
- She's a tough old hen who doesn't take any nonsense.
- Don't be such an old hen — we'll be fine on our own.
Antonyms