from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Fowl \Fowl\ (foul), n.
Note: Instead of the pl. {Fowls} the singular is often used
collectively. [OE. foul, fowel, foghel, fuhel, fugel,
AS. fugol; akin to OS. fugal D. & G. vogel, OHG. fogal,
Icel. & Dan. fugl, Sw. fogel, f[*a]gel, Goth. fugls; of
unknown origin, possibly by loss of l, from the root of
E. fly, or akin to E. fox, as being a tailed animal.]
1. Any bird; esp., any large edible bird.
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Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and
over the fowl of the air. --Gen. i. 26.
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Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not.
--Matt. vi.
26.
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Like a flight of fowl
Scattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts.
--Shak.
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2. Any domesticated bird used as food, as a hen, turkey,
duck; in a more restricted sense, the common domestic cock
or hen ({Gallus domesticus}).
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{Barndoor fowl}, or {Barnyard fowl}, a fowl that frequents
the barnyard; the common domestic cock or hen.
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