Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Grouse
Grouse
(grous)
, Noun.
sing.
& pl.
[Prob. after the analogy of mouse, mice, fr. the earlier
grice
, OF. griesche
meor hen: cf. F. piegrièche
shrike.] (Zool.)
Any of the numerous species of gallinaceous birds of the family
Tetraonidæ
, and subfamily Tetraoninæ
, inhabiting Europe, Asia, and North America. They have plump bodies, strong, well-feathered legs, and usually mottled plumage. The group includes the ptarmigans (Lagopus
), having feathered feet. ☞ Among the European species are the red grouse (
Lagopus Scoticus
) and the hazel grouse (Bonasa betulina
). See Capercaidzie
, Ptarmigan
, and Heath grouse
. Among the most important American species are the ruffed grouse, or New England partridge (Bonasa umbellus
); the sharp-tailed grouse (Pediocætes phasianellus
) of the West; the dusky blue, or pine grouse (Dendragapus obscurus
) of the Rocky Mountains; the Canada grouse, or spruce partridge (D. Canadensis
). See also Prairie hen
, and Sage cock
. The Old World sand grouse (Pterocles
, etc.) belong to a very different family. See Pterocletes
, and Sand grouse
. Grouse
,Verb.
I.
1.
To seek or shoot grouse.
Definition 2024
grouse
grouse
English
A male spruce grouse, Falcipennis canadensis (= Dendragapus canadensis)
Noun
grouse (plural grouse or grouses)
- Any of various game birds of the family Tetraonidae which inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere.
Translations
any of various game birds of the family Tetraonidae
|
|
Verb
grouse (third-person singular simple present grouses, present participle grousing, simple past and past participle groused)
- To seek or shoot grouse.
Etymology 2
As a verb from the late 19th century (first recorded by Kipling), as a noun from the early 20th; origin uncertain, possibly from French groucier "to murmur, grumble", in origin onomatopoeic. Compare grutch with the same meaning, but attestation from the 1200s, whence also grouch.
Noun
grouse (plural grouses)
- A cause for complaint.
Verb
grouse (third-person singular simple present grouses, present participle grousing, simple past and past participle groused)
- To complain or grumble.
- 1890, Kipling, The Young British Soldier
- If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,
- Don't grouse like a woman, nor crack on, nor blind;
- Be handy and civil, and then you will find
- That it's beer for the young British soldier.
- 1890, Kipling, The Young British Soldier
Translations
to complain or grumble
|
Etymology 3
1930s, origin uncertain. Perhaps from British dialect. Compare Scots (Lothian) groosh excellent, Scots grushie having thriving vegetation; ultimately from gross (“large”).
Adjective
grouse (comparative grouser, superlative grousest)
- (Australia, New Zealand, slang) Excellent.
- I had a grouse day.
- That food was grouse.
- 1991, Tim Winton, Cloudstreet, Scribner Paperback Fiction 2002, page 182,
- They were the grousest ladies she′d ever met.
- 1998 July 23, Stujo, “SPOILER FTF - questions”, in aus.tv.x-files, Usenet:
- Not a question but the gag of Mulder pissing on the ID4 poster was grouse.
- 2016 October 4, Leeroy, “FS Ultralight Aircraft”, in aus.motorcycles, Usenet:
- I know, but I moved from riding bikes to flying and it is a great move. All riders without a fear of heights I know that flew with me thought it was grouse- and there are no coppers or speed limits up there.