pullet

noun

pul·​let ˈpu̇-lət 

: a young hen

specifically : a hen of the domestic chicken less than a year old

Examples of pullet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rates in backyard flocks or pullet (young hen) groupings can be even higher—sometimes as much as 1 in 50. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2025

The average lifetime egg production of a pullet is in the 600 range. — John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Jan. 2023

Under the investments announced last week, Cal-Maine will build four new cage-free hen houses and convert two pullet houses in Utah for a total capacity of 810,000 cage-free layer hens. — Kristin Broughton, WSJ, 4 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English polet, from Anglo-French pullet young bird, chicken, diminutive of pulle, poule young animal, from Late Latin pullus, from Latin, young animal, chicken, sprout — more at foal

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pullet

• bullet

Kids Definition

pullet

noun

pul·​let ˈpu̇l-ət 

: a young hen

especially : a hen of the domestic chicken that is less than a year old

Etymology

Middle English polet "a young chicken or fowl," from early French pullet (same meaning), derived from earlier pulle, poule "young animal," from Latin pullus "young animal, chicken" — related to pool entry 3, poultry