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blackcock
The Collaborative International Dictionary
blackcock

Heath \Heath\ (h[=e]th), n. [OE. heth waste land, the plant heath, AS. h[=ae][eth]; akin to D. & G. heide, Icel. hei[eth]r waste land, Dan. hede, Sw. hed, Goth. hai[thorn]i field, L. bucetum a cow pasture; cf. W. coed a wood, Skr. ksh[=e]tra field. [root]20.]

  1. (Bot.)

    1. A low shrub ( Erica vulgaris or Calluna vulgaris), with minute evergreen leaves, and handsome clusters of pink flowers. It is used in Great Britain for brooms, thatch, beds for the poor, and for heating ovens. It is also called heather, and ling.

    2. Also, any species of the genus Erica, of which several are European, and many more are South African, some of great beauty. See Illust. of Heather.

  2. A place overgrown with heath; any cheerless tract of country overgrown with shrubs or coarse herbage.

    Their stately growth, though bare, Stands on the blasted heath.
    --Milton

    Heath cock (Zo["o]l.), the blackcock. See Heath grouse (below).

    Heath grass (Bot.), a kind of perennial grass, of the genus Triodia ( Triodia decumbens), growing on dry heaths.

    Heath grouse, or Heath game (Zo["o]l.), a European grouse ( Tetrao tetrix), which inhabits heaths; -- called also black game, black grouse, heath poult, heath fowl, moor fowl. The male is called heath cock, and blackcock; the female, heath hen, and gray hen.

    Heath hen. (Zo["o]l.) See Heath grouse (above).

    Heath pea (Bot.), a species of bitter vetch ( Lathyrus macrorhizus), the tubers of which are eaten, and in Scotland are used to flavor whisky.

    Heath throstle (Zo["o]l.), a European thrush which frequents heaths; the ring ouzel.

Wiktionary
blackcock

n. the male black grouse

WordNet
blackcock

n. male black grouse [syn: black cock]

Usage examples of "blackcock".

There were no blaeberries or crowberries in the woods, but there were many woodcock, and Bill had a shot with his catapult at a wicked old blackcock on a peat-stack.

It is stated that the blackcock will dance before his females to a great age, though I have never seen it.