English Dictionary

hen

/hɛn/

noun

A female chicken (Gallus gallus), particularly a sexually mature one kept for her eggs. / A female of other bird species, particularly a sexually mature female fowl.

The hen laid six eggs in the nest.

意味（1）

A female chicken (Gallus gallus), particularly a sexually mature one kept for her eggs.

She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid, […]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.

意味（2）

A female of other bird species, particularly a sexually mature female fowl.

Coordinate term: cock

意味（3）

(uncommon) A female fish (especially a salmon or trout) or crustacean.

As spawning time approaches – autumn or very early winter in most rivers, though in some late-run streams salmon may spawn as late as January or February – the hen's colouration becomes first a matt-pewter and then a drab dark brown-grey. The cock fish, in contrast, begins to gain some brighter colours.

意味（4）

(figuratively, derogatory) A woman, particularly

意味（5）

(UK, informal) A bride-to-be, particularly in the context of her "hen night" festivities.

意味（6）

(UK, informal) A hen night.

意味（7）

(Scotland, informal) An affectionate term of address used to women or girls.

Don't cry, hen. Everything will be all right.

意味（8）

(figuratively, derogatory, uncommon) A henlike person of either sex.

意味（9）

The hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), a bivalve shellfish.