Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Fowl
Fowl
(foul)
, Noun.
Instead of the pl.
. Fowls
the singular is often used collectively[OE.
foul
, fowel
, foghel
, fuhel
, fugel
, AS. fugol
; akin to OS. fugal
D. & G. vogel
, OHG. fogal
, Icel. & Dan. fugl
, Sw. fogel
, fågel
, Goth. fugls
; of unknown origin, possibly by loss of l, from the root of E. fly
, or akin to E. fox
, as being a tailed animal.] 1.
Any bird; esp., any large edible bird.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl
of the air. Gen. i. 26.
Behold the
fowls
of the air; for they sow not. Matt. vi. 26.
Like a flight of
Scattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts.
fowl
Scattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts.
Shakespeare
2.
Any domesticated bird used as food, as a hen, turkey, duck; in a more restricted sense, the common domestic cock or hen (
Gallus domesticus
). Barndoor fowl
, or Barnyard fowl
a fowl that frequents the barnyard; the common domestic cock or hen.
Fowl
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Fowled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fowling
.] To catch or kill wild fowl, for game or food, as by shooting, or by decoys, nets, etc.
Such persons as may lawfully hunt, fish, or
fowl
. Blackstone.
Fowling piece
, a light gun with smooth bore, adapted for the use of small shot in killing birds or small quadrupeds.
Webster 1828 Edition
Fowl
FOWL
,Noun.
A flying or winged animal; the generic name of certain animals that move through the air by the aid of wings. Fowls have two feet, are covered with feathers, and have wings for flight. Bird is a young fowl or chicken, and may well be applied to the smaller species of fowls. But it has usurped the place of fowl, and is used improperly as the generic term.
Fowl is used as a collective noun. We dined on fish and fowl.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air. Gen. 1.
But this use in America is not frequent. We generally use the plural, fowls. The word is colloquially used for poultry, or rather, in a more limited sense, for barn door fowls.
FOWL
,Verb.
I.