Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

heath hen

noun

Definition of heath hen

: a now extinct grouse (Tympanuchus cupido cupido) of the northeastern U.S. — compare prairie chicken

Examples of heath hen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 By that time two other American species faced their imminent demise: the once-abundant passenger pigeon and the heath hen, a grouse-like bird that lived along the Eastern seaboard. — Jennie Erin Smith, WSJ, "‘The Fall of the Wild’ Review: Turning Back the Clock," 12 Apr. 2019

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

First Known Use of heath hen

1644, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about heath hen

Statistics for heath hen

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for heath hen

The first known use of heath hen was in 1644

See more words from the same year

Comments on heath hen

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

Yooper

Listen to the pronounciation of Yooper

one from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Musical Words Quiz

  • gramophone
  • Which word describes a musical performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games