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Definition of 'fowl'

Word Frequency

fowl

(faʊl )

Word forms: plural fowls , plural fowl

countable noun

A fowl is a bird, especially one that can be eaten as food, such as a duck or a chicken.

Carve the fowl into 8 pieces.

...ducks and many other animals and fowl.

Synonyms: poultry More Synonyms of fowl

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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Word Frequency

fowl in British English

(faʊl )

noun

1. See domestic fowl

2.

any other bird, esp any gallinaceous bird, that is used as food or hunted as game

See also waterfowl, wildfowl

3.

the flesh or meat of fowl, esp of chicken

4. an archaic word for any bird

verb

5. (intransitive)

to hunt or snare wildfowl

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Word origin

Old English fugol; related to Old Frisian fugel, Old Norse fogl, Gothic fugls, Old High German fogal

Word Frequency

fowl in American English

(faʊl )

nounWord forms: plural fowls or fowl

1.

any bird

now only in combination

wildfowl

2.

any of various domestic birds used as food

; specif.,

a.

the chicken

b.

the duck, goose, turkey, etc.

c.

a full-grown chicken, as distinguished from a springer, etc.

3.

the flesh of any of these birds used for food

verb intransitive

4.

to catch, trap, hunt, or shoot wild birds for food or sport

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Derived forms

fowler (ˈfowler)

noun

fowling (ˈfowling)

noun

Word origin

ME foule, foghel < OE fugol, akin to Ger vogel, bird < Gmc *fuglaz, altered by dissimulation < *fluglaz < *flug-, *fleug- < IE *pleuk- > fly1

Examples of 'fowl' in a sentence
fowl

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…

Will he prove neither upfield fish nor midfield fowl?But the trouble with this series is that it is neither fish nor fowl.Some might call that fowl play.It is neither fish nor fowl.Instead of fish and fowl, he simply saw larger fish.And if she wants to wed in white she'd need a fish or fowl frock.When Rhodry tried a bite it tasted of meat, not fowl.I eat fish and fowl.The creature that incurred the congestion charge in Central London yesterday was neither fish nor fowl nor good red herring.We should recognise it as the noble jungle fowl that, in the deepest recesses of its genetic code, it still is.

Word lists with
fowl

related adjectives, male animals, female animals

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

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Score: 0 / 5

Which male animal am I?

billy or buck

deer goat kangaroo

Which male animal am I?

bull

ass deer elephant

Which male animal am I?

buck

deer horse reindeer

Which male animal am I?

cock

Which male animal am I?

buck

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More idioms containing
fowl

be neither fish nor fowl

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fowl

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In other languages
fowl

British English: fowl NOUN /faʊl/

A fowl is a bird, especially one that can be eaten as food, such as a duck or a chicken.

Carve the fowl into 8 pieces.

American English: fowl /ˈfaʊl/
Brazilian Portuguese: ave (doméstica)
Chinese: 家禽
European Spanish: ave de corral
French: volaille
German: Geflügel
Italian: volatile
Japanese: 家禽
Korean: 가금
European Portuguese: ave (doméstica)
Latin American Spanish: ave de corral
Thai: สัตว์ปีก

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Definition of fowl from the Collins English Dictionary

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childlike or childish?

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We were shocked by their selfish and childlike behaviour.We were shocked by their selfish and childish behaviour.

comprehensible or comprehensive?

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comprehensive

comprehensible

Linda received training after joining the firm.

alone or lonely?

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I spend a lot of my time alone in my room.I spend a lot of my time lonely in my room.

anniversary or birthday?

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They celebrated the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth.They celebrated the birthday of Shakespeare's birth.

arise or rise?

Which version is correct?

A serious problem has arisen.A serious problem has risen.

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May 28, 2021

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amnesty

An amnesty is an official pardon granted to a group of prisoners by the state.

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Scrabble score
for 'fowl':
10

Quick word challenge

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Question: 1

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Score: 0 / 5

know or no?

Which version is correct?

I don't know the name of the place. I don't no the name of the place.

throne or thrown?

Which version is correct?

At present he is third in line to the throne. At present he is third in line to the thrown.

flea or flee?

Which version is correct?

Thousands have had to flea the country. Thousands have had to flee the country.

groan or grown?

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I've never seen a group of groan men laugh so much. I've never seen a group of grown men laugh so much.

idle or idol?

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idol

idle

The crowd cheered as they caught sight of their .

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