grouse

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈgrau̇s 

plural grouse or grouses

: any of various chiefly ground-dwelling birds (family Tetraonidae) that are usually of reddish-brown or other protective color and have feathered legs and that include many important game birds

grouse

2 of 3

verb

groused; grousing

intransitive verb

: complain, grumble

groused about the higher prices

grouser noun

grouse

3 of 3

noun (2)

: complaint

listened to their grouses about working conditions

Synonyms

Verb

• beef
• bellyache
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• caterwaul
• complain
• crab
• croak
• fuss
• gripe
• grizzle
• grouch
• growl
• grumble
• grump
• holler
• inveigh
• keen
• kick
• kvetch
• maunder [chiefly British]
• moan
• murmur
• mutter
• nag
• repine
• scream
• squawk
• squeal
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer
• yawp
• yaup
• yowl

Noun (2)

• beef
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• complaint
• fuss
• grievance
• gripe
• grouch
• grumble
• holler
• kvetch
• lament
• miserere
• moan
• murmur
• plaint
• squawk
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer

Examples of grouse in a Sentence

Verb

She's been grousing to her boss about the working conditions.

Fans have groused that the higher prices are unfair.

Noun (2)

a forum in which employees can air their grouses

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Americans love to grouse about the rising cost of college. —Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024

Some ten minutes into our hike, the pup flushes a trio of grouse about 30 yards ahead. —Chris Dorsey, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024

Verb

Europeans will certainly grouse about a partial U.S. retrenchment. —Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024

While some have groused that Disney theme park prices have gotten too expensive, the same hasn’t been said of the cruise line, according to a survey conducted this summer by Raymond James. —Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (2)

derivative of grouse entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1531, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1887, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1918, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grouse

• black grouse
• ruffed grouse
• sage grouse

Kids Definition

grouse

1 of 2 noun

ˈgrau̇s 

plural grouse or grouses

: any of various plump-bodied game birds that are usually reddish or grayish brown with feathers on the legs

grouse

2 of 2 verb

groused; grousing

: complain sense 1, grumble

grouser noun