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Definition of moorhen

moorhen

/ˈmʊrˌhɛn/
moor · hen
Plural:moorhens
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moorhen Lexical Profile

moorhen Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A medium-sized waterbird of the rail family (Rallidae), typically characterized by blackish plumage, long toes adapted for walking on floating vegetation, and a distinctive red frontal shield and yellow-tipped bill.

Example

"We sat quietly by the edge of the pond and watched a moorhen forage among the dense reeds."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for moorhen

• Nearby Words

moonwards
moony
moor
moorhen
mooring
moorings
moorish

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'morehen', combining 'mor' (marsh or fen) and 'hen' (bird). The name historically references the bird's wetland habitat rather than upland moors.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Moorhen. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/moorhen
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