The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hen \Hen\, n. [AS. henn, hen, h[ae]n; akin to D. hen, OHG.
henna, G. henne, Icel. h?na, Dan. h["o]na; the fem.
corresponding to AS. hana cock, D. haan, OHG. hano, G. hahn,
Icel. hani, Dan. & Sw. hane. Prob. akin to L. canere to sing,
and orig. meaning, a singer. Cf. Chanticleer.] (Zool.)
The female of the domestic fowl; also, the female of grouse,
pheasants, or any kind of birds; as, the heath hen; the gray
hen.
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Note: Used adjectively or in combination to indicate the
female; as, hen canary, hen eagle, hen turkey, peahen.
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Hen clam. (Zool.)
(a) A clam of the Mactra, and allied genera; the sea clam
or surf clam. See Surf clam.
(b) A California clam of the genus Pachydesma.
Hen driver. See Hen harrier (below).
Hen harrier (Zool.), a hawk (Circus cyaneus), found in
Europe and America; -- called also dove hawk, henharm,
henharrow, hen driver, and usually, in America, marsh
hawk. See Marsh hawk.
Hen hawk (Zool.), one of several species of large hawks
which capture hens; esp., the American red-tailed hawk
(Buteo borealis), the red-shouldered hawk (Buteo
lineatus), and the goshawk.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Red-tailed \Red"-tailed`\ (-t?ld`), a.
Having a red tail.
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Red-tailed hawk (Zool.), a large North American hawk
(Buteo borealis). When adult its tail is chestnut red.
Called also hen hawck, and red-tailed buzzard.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hawk \Hawk\ (h[add]k), n. [OE. hauk (prob. fr. Icel.), havek,
AS. hafoc, heafoc; akin to D. havik, OHG. habuh, G. habicht,
Icel. haukr, Sw. h["o]k, Dan. h["o]g, prob. from the root of
E. heave.] (Zool.)
One of numerous species and genera of rapacious birds of the
family Falconid[ae]. They differ from the true falcons in
lacking the prominent tooth and notch of the bill, and in
having shorter and less pointed wings. Many are of large size
and grade into the eagles. Some, as the goshawk, were
formerly trained like falcons. In a more general sense the
word is not infrequently applied, also, to true falcons, as
the sparrow hawk, pigeon hawk, duck hawk, and prairie hawk.
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Note: Among the common American species are the red-tailed
hawk (Buteo borealis); the red-shouldered (Buteo
lineatus); the broad-winged (Buteo Pennsylvanicus);
the rough-legged (Archibuteo lagopus); the
sharp-shinned (Accipiter fuscus). See Fishhawk,
Goshawk, Marsh hawk, under Marsh, Night hawk,
under Night.
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Bee hawk (Zool.), the honey buzzard.
Eagle hawk. See under Eagle.
Hawk eagle (Zool.), an Asiatic bird of the genus
Spiz[ae]tus, or Limn[ae]tus, intermediate between the
hawks and eagles. There are several species.
Hawk fly (Zool.), a voracious fly of the family
Asilid[ae]. See Hornet fly, under Hornet.
Hawk moth. (Zool.) See Hawk moth, in the Vocabulary.
Hawk owl. (Zool.)
(a) A northern owl (Surnia ulula) of Europe and America. It
flies by day, and in some respects resembles the hawks.
(b) An owl of India (Ninox scutellatus).
Hawk's bill (Horology), the pawl for the rack, in the
striking mechanism of a clock.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Buzzard \Buz"zard\ (b[u^]z"z[~e]rd), n.[O.E. busard, bosard, F.
busard, fr. buse, L. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk.]
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1. (Zool.) A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to
the genus Buteo and related genera.
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2. (Zool.) In the United States, a term used for the turkey
vulture (Cathartes aura), and sometimes
indiscriminately to any vulture.
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Note: The Buteo vulgaris is the common buzzard of Europe.
The American species (of which the most common are
Buteo borealis, Buteo Pennsylvanicus, and Buteo
lineatus) are usually called hen hawks. -- The
rough-legged buzzard, or bee hawk, of Europe (Pernis
apivorus) feeds on bees and their larv[ae], with other
insects, and reptiles. -- The moor buzzard of Europe is
Circus [ae]ruginosus. See Turkey buzzard, and
Carrion buzzard.
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Bald buzzard, the fishhawk or osprey. See Fishhawk.
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2. A blockhead; a dunce.
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It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not
be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a
buzzard. --Goldsmith.
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