meadow hen

3 definitions found

meadow hen - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Stake-driver \Stake"-driv`er\ (-dr[imac]v`[~e]r), n. (Zool.)
     The common American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus); -- so
     called because one of its notes resembles the sound made in
     driving a stake into the mud. Called also meadow hen, and
     Indian hen.
     [1913 Webster]

  Meadow \Mead"ow\, a.
     Of or pertaining to a meadow; of the nature of a meadow;
     produced, growing, or living in, a meadow. "Fat meadow
     ground." --Milton.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: For many names of plants compounded with meadow, see
           the particular word in the Vocabulary.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Meadow beauty. (Bot.) Same as Deergrass.
  
     Meadow foxtail (Bot.), a valuable pasture grass
        (Alopecurus pratensis) resembling timothy, but with
        softer spikes.
  
     Meadow hay, a coarse grass, or true sedge, growing in
        uncultivated swamp or river meadow; -- used as fodder or
        bedding for cattle, packing for ice, etc. [Local, U. S.]
        
  
     Meadow hen. (Zool.)
     (a) The American bittern. See Stake-driver.
     (b) The American coot (Fulica).
     (c) The clapper rail.
  
     Meadow mouse (Zool.), any mouse of the genus Arvicola, as
        the common American species Arvicola riparia; -- called
        also field mouse, and field vole.
  
     Meadow mussel (Zool.), an American ribbed mussel (Modiola  plicatula
        ), very abundant in salt marshes.
  
     Meadow ore (Min.), bog-iron ore, a kind of limonite.
  
     Meadow parsnip. (Bot.) See under Parsnip.
  
     Meadow pink. (Bot.) See under Pink.
  
     Meadow pipit (Zool.), a small singing bird of the genus
        Anthus, as Anthus pratensis, of Europe.
  
     Meadow rue (Bot.), a delicate early plant, of the genus
        Thalictrum, having compound leaves and numerous white
        flowers. There are many species.
  
     Meadow saffron. (Bot.) See under Saffron.
  
     Meadow sage. (Bot.) See under Sage.
  
     Meadow saxifrage (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant of Europe
        (Silaus pratensis), somewhat resembling fennel.
  
     Meadow snipe (Zool.), the common or jack snipe.
        [1913 Webster] meadowgrass

  Bittern \Bit"tern\, n. [OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F.
     butor; of unknown origin.] (Zool.)
     A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons,
     of various species.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The common European bittern is Botaurus stellaris. It
           makes, during the brooding season, a noise called by
           Dryden bumping, and by Goldsmith booming. The American
           bittern is Botaurus lentiginosus, and is also called
           stake-driver and meadow hen. See Stake-driver.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The name is applied to other related birds, as the
           least bittern (Ardetta exilis), and the sun bittern
           .
           [1913 Webster]