fowl

noun \ ˈfau̇(-ə)l \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of fowl

plural fowl or fowls

1 : a bird of any kind — compare waterfowl, wildfowl

2 a : a cock or hen of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus); especially : an adult hen

b : any of several domesticated (see ¹domesticate 2) or wild gallinaceous birds — compare guinea fowl, jungle fowl

3 : the meat of fowls used as food

roasted fowl

See fowl defined for English-language learners

See fowl defined for kids

Examples of fowl in a Sentence

I spotted a long-legged fowl by the water's edge.

Recent Examples of fowl from the Web

The more aggressive animals and fowl are prohibited.

— rabbi avi weiss, Jewish Journal, "The rationale for the dietary laws," 9 Apr. 2018
Every season, farmers and other landowners earn tidy sums turning their fallow fields into fields of fire for a virtual army of sportsmen in camouflage, looking skyward for the water fowl.

— eric adler, kansascity, "True March Madness — nearly 1 million snow geese massing 90 miles north of KC | The Kansas City Star," 16 Mar. 2018
People were largely unaware that at the same time as the 1918 flu pandemic, pigs were sick with the disease and influenza viruses were also causing ongoing fowl plague epidemics.

— jonathan runstadler, Scientific American, "Influenza's Wild Origins in the Animals around Us," 11 Mar. 2018
The fowl are not friendly to patients trying to access the clinic, officials told KTVU.

— ajc homepage, ajc, "Wild turkeys hanging out at health clinic harassing patients, officials say," 6 Mar. 2018
McReynolds said neither city reported logging complaints about the keeping of fowl.

— jeff piorkowski/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "University Heights City Council considers allowing backyard chickens," 21 Feb. 2018
There was no shortage, however, of humans in fowl outfits.

— alan berner, The Seattle Times, "Edison’s annual Chicken Parade draws the real thing and the wannabes," 26 Feb. 2018
Last week, after five hours spent waiting, Black was able to photograph the one-of-a-kind fowl.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "Supremely Rare Yellow Cardinal Spotted in Alabama," 23 Feb. 2018
That there are many, if not most, hunters that share a fondness for fowl of all types may surprise people.

— steve meyer, Anchorage Daily News, "When a waterfowl hunter spends more on birdseed than shotgun shells," 23 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fowl.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fowl

Middle English foul, from Old English fugel; akin to Old High German fogal bird, and probably to Old English flēogan to fly — more at fly

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

fowl

verb

Definition of fowl

intransitive verb

: to seek, catch, or kill wildfowl

Recent Examples of fowl from the Web

Games include fowling — a game that combines football and bowling — as well as table tennis, foosball, air hockey and more.

— robert philpot, star-telegram.com, "Hanging out at 12 new patios in and around Fort Worth," 17 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of fowl

see ¹fowl

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

FOWL Defined for English Language Learners

fowl

noun

Definition of fowl for English Language Learners

: a bird (such as a chicken) that is raised for food
: the meat of such a bird used as food
: a bird of any kind

FOWL Defined for Kids

fowl

noun \ ˈfau̇l \

Definition of fowl for Students

plural fowl or fowls

1 : bird

wild fowls

2 : a common domestic rooster or hen

3 : the meat of a domestic fowl used as food

Headscratcher for fowl

Remove the first letter of fowl and you get an example of one: owl!

Learn More about fowl

See words that rhyme with fowl Spanish Central: Translation of fowl Nglish: Translation of fowl for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fowl for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fowl

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up fowl? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

fowl

Definition of fowl

Examples of fowl in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fowl from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fowl

Other Birds Terms

fowl

Definition of fowl

Recent Examples of fowl from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fowl

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

FOWL Defined for English Language Learners

fowl

Definition of fowl for English Language Learners

FOWL Defined for Kids

fowl

Definition of fowl for Students

Headscratcher for fowl

Learn More about fowl

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes