# moorhen

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmʊəɹˌhɛn/

## Definitions
1. Any of various medium-sized water birds of the genus Gallinula, of the rail family, that feed in open water margins.
2. A female red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scotica.

## Etymology
From Middle English morhen, perhaps from Old English *mōrhenn, an alteration of Old English worhenn (compare coordinate masculine term mōrhana, a possible corruption of worhana (“pheasant”)), equivalent to moor + hen.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/moorhen