fowl

1 of 2

noun

ˈfau̇(-ə)l 

plural fowl or fowls

1

: a bird of any kind compare waterfowl, wildfowl

2

a

: a cock or hen of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus)

especially : an adult hen

b

: any of several domesticated (see domesticate entry 1 sense 2) or wild gallinaceous birds compare guinea fowl, jungle fowl

3

: the meat of fowls used as food

roasted fowl

fowl

2 of 2

verb

fowled; fowling; fowls

intransitive verb

: to seek, catch, or kill wildfowl

Examples of fowl in a Sentence

Noun

I spotted a long-legged fowl by the water's edge.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Lawmakers in the Wolverine State voted in 2019 to modify the Animal Industry Act so as to require shell eggs from chicken, ducks and other fowl sold in Michigan to come from cage-free housing systems, starting from December 31, 2024. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

That and not trusting penguins [a reference to Wallace and Gromit’s nemesis, the flightless fowl Feathers McGraw]. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Dec. 2024

Verb

While most opt for a scoop and knife, or even power tools, Tiffani Thiessen outsources the work to fowl friends. —EW.com, 18 Oct. 2023

The Coast Guard tried using deploy prop fowling devices to stop the boat but were unsuccessful, according to the sheriff's office. —Gina Martinez, CBS News, 2 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English foul, from Old English fugel; akin to Old High German fogal bird, and probably to Old English flēogan to fly — more at fly

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fowl

• jungle fowl
• neither fish nor fowl

Kids Definition

fowl

1 of 2 noun

ˈfau̇(ə)l 

plural fowl or fowls

1

: bird entry 1 sense 1: as

a

: a domestic cock or hen

especially : a full-grown hen

b

: any of several domesticated or wild birds related to the common domestic chicken

2

: the meat of fowl used as food

fowl

2 of 2 verb

: to hunt, catch, or kill wildfowl

fowler noun