DCHP-1 Online
prairie hen † 
1 a grouse, Tympanuchus cupido americanus, common on the southern prairies.
See also: prairie chicken (def. 1)
- 1823 This species is an inhabitant of woody countries only, in which it differs from the Pinnated grouse of America, better known to the Sportsmen of the New World under the appellation of the Prairie hen and Heath hen.
- 1909 A prairie hen rustled by with a shrill cluck.
- 1959 Common Prairie Chicken [is also called] prairie chicken (General; often shortened to "chicken"); prairie hen (General); square tail . . . square-tailed grouse (Man.).
2 a species of grouse, Pedicetes phasianellus, found in the West and North.
See also: sharp-tailed grouse
- 1853 Basil had already arrived with a fine prairie hen (Tetrao cupido) which he had shot. . . .
- 1959 Sharp-tailed Grouse [is also called] pintail grouse . . . prairie chicken (Sometimes "chicken" alone. Ont., Man., Sask., Alta., B.C.); prairie hen (Sask.); sharptail (Man.); willow grouse (Y.T.).
3 Figurative use.
- 1922 I'm merely a submerged prairie-hen with the best part of her life behind her.
- 1823 This species is an inhabitant of woody countries only, in which it differs from the Pinnated grouse of America, better known to the Sportsmen of the New World under the appellation of the Prairie hen and Heath hen.