What is "moor fowl"

moorfowl \moorfowl\, moor fowl \moor fowl\n. (Zo["o]l.)

1. A reddish-brown grouse ( Lagopus Scoticus) of upland moors of Great Britain; the European ptarmigan, or red grouse, also called the moorgame.

   Syn: red grouse, moorbird, moorgame, Lagopus scoticus.

2. The European heath grouse. See under Heath.

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.

heathfowl \heathfowl\, heath fowl \heath fowl\n. A large Northern European black grouse ( Lyrurus tetrix formerly Tetrao tetrix) with a lyre-shaped tail; it is also called heath grouse, black game, black grouse, heath poult, heath fowl, and moor fowl. See heath grouse under heath, above.

Syn: European black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix.