jungle fowl
noun
: any of several Asian wild birds (genus Gallus) related to the pheasants
especially
: a bird (G. gallus) of southeastern Asia from which domestic chickens have probably descended
Examples of jungle fowl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Until recently, it was fairly widely accepted that people were breeding jungle fowl in Asia as far back as 10,000 years ago.
—
Rachel Feltman, Popular Science, 19 July 2023
Neanderthals roasted brown crabs in Gruta da Figueira Brava ninety thousand years ago, genetic taint from chickens has disrupted the red jungle fowl genome, and Vikings brought over their own animals in addition to stealing them from Britons.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Apr. 2023
Biologist Charles Darwin first proposed that chickens may have descended from the red jungle fowl because of their similar appearances, per Science.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 June 2022
The bloody pastime may actually explain why jungle fowl were raised in captivity in the first place, perhaps giving rise to the domestic chicken.
—Richard Pallardy, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2021
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Rachel Feltman, Popular Science, 19 July 2023
Neanderthals roasted brown crabs in Gruta da Figueira Brava ninety thousand years ago, genetic taint from chickens has disrupted the red jungle fowl genome, and Vikings brought over their own animals in addition to stealing them from Britons.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Apr. 2023
Biologist Charles Darwin first proposed that chickens may have descended from the red jungle fowl because of their similar appearances, per Science.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 June 2022
The bloody pastime may actually explain why jungle fowl were raised in captivity in the first place, perhaps giving rise to the domestic chicken.
—Richard Pallardy, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Jungle fowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jungle%20fowl. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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