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Definition of fat hen
fat hen
Plural:fat hens
• noun
1
British A fast-growing annual herbaceous plant (Chenopodium album) in the amaranth family, native to Eurasia and widely naturalized across the world, characterized by diamond-shaped leaves coated in a whitish powdery residue.
Example
"The gardener spent the morning pulling up patches of fat hen that had sprouted between the rows of potatoes."
2
British The nutrient-rich edible young leaves and tender shoots of the Chenopodium album plant, harvested as a wild potherb or cultivated leafy green and prepared similarly to spinach.
Example
"Foragers often gather young fat hen in the spring to steam as a nutritious side dish or toss into fresh salads."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for fat hen• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fat hen. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fat%20hen