korhaan

noun

kor·​haan

ˈkō(ə)rˌhän

variants or knorhaan or less commonly knoorhaan

ˈnō-

or koorhaan

ˈkō-

plural korhaan or korhaans or knorhaan or knorhaans

1

: any of several African bustards

2

usually knoorhaan [so called from the sound they make when taken out of the water]

a

: any of several gurnards of southern Africa

b

: a large grunt (Pomadasys operculare) of the Indian Ocean that is a food and game fish in southern Africa

Word History

Etymology

korhaan, koorhaan from Afrikaans korhaan, from Dutch, black grouse, from korren to coo (from Middle Dutch curren, probably of imitative origin) + haan cock, rooster, from Middle Dutch hane; knorhaan, knoorhaan from Afrikaans knorhaan, from Dutch, black grouse, alteration (influenced by knorren to grumble, from Middle Dutch cnorren, probably of imitative origin) of korhaan; akin to Old English hana rooster

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!