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A genus of water fowls, of the order Anseres, including certain species of fresh-water ducks.

or propensity in animals to perform certain actions, as in the young to suck, in aquatic fowls to enter into water and to swim; the tendency of an organized body to seek what satisfies the wants of its organism. These lacteals have mouths, and by animal selection or appetency the absorb such part of the fluid as is ag…

ter; living in, swimming in, or frequenting the margins of waters; as, aquatic plants and fowls.

A savory meat jelly containing portions of fowl, game, fish, hard boiled eggs, etc. Thackeray.

Birdcatching; fowling. [Obs.] Blount.

A variety of small barnyard fowl, with feathered legs, probably brought from Bantam, a district of Java.

Orig., a chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling; and hence, a feathered flying animal (see 2). That ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird. Shak. The brydds [birds] of the aier have nestes. Tyndale (Matt. viii. 20).

One whose employment it is to catch birds; a fowler.

The art, act, or occupation or catching birds or wild fowls.

Birdcatching or fowling. Shak. Birding piece, a fowling piece. Shak.

A fowler or birdcatcher.

One of an old and well-known Mediterranean breed of domestic fowls with glossy black plumage, blue legs and feet, bright red comb and wattles, and white face. They are remarkable as egg layers.

A valuable variety of large, domestic fowl, peculiar in having the comb divided lengthwise into three parts, and the legs well feathered. There are two breeds, the dark or penciled, and the light; -- called also Brahmapootra.

To sit on and cover eggs, as a fowl, for the purpose of warming them and hatching the young; or to sit over and cover young, as a hen her chickens, in order to warm and protect them; hence, to sit quietly, as if brooding. Birds of calm sir brooding on the charmed wave. Milton.

A fowl that cackles.

ierce and eager hawks, down thrilling from the skies, Make sundry canceliers are they the fowl can reach. Drayton.

To castrate, as a fowl.

Flesh, fowl, etc., cut across, seasoned, and broiled on coals; a chop. [Obs.]

One who caters. The little fowls in the air have God for Their provider and caterer. Shelton.

A chicken; a fowl; also, a trivial term of endearment for a child.