noun
grouse
grows
Grouse (noun) means a plump game bird found in moorland and northern regions, often hunted for sport and food. Example: “The 12th of August marks the start of grouse shooting season in Scotland.”
noun
1
A plump game bird found in moorland and northern regions, often hunted for sport and food.
"The 12th of August marks the start of grouse shooting season in Scotland."
2
A complaint.
"Her main grouse was the lack of parking."
verb
1
To complain or grumble, often persistently.
"He's always grousing about the weather."
"Staff grumbled and groused about the new shift pattern."
How to use grouse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the moorland game bird, or informally, to complain about something.
When to use it
The "complain" sense is informal.
Common pairings
grouse about something
a minor grouse
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Word forms
- Plural
- grouses
- Third person singular
- grouses
- Past tense
- groused
- Comparative
- grouser
- Superlative
- grousest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The 12th of August marks the start of _____ shooting season in Scotland.
Etymology
First recorded in the 1530s for the bird; the origin is uncertain, possibly linked to French or Latin words for "crane" or simply imitating the bird's call. The complaining sense developed later from the noun.
Class of 1530
grouse joined the language around 1530.
See the full Class of 1530 →
Related words
Rhymes for grouse
See all rhymes for grouse →Frequently asked questions
What does “grouse” mean?
The word “grouse” means a plump game bird found in moorland and northern regions, often hunted for sport and food. In plain terms, either the moorland game bird, or informally, to complain about something.
How do you pronounce “grouse”?
“Grouse” is pronounced grows (/ɡɹaʊs/ in IPA).
How do you use “grouse” in a sentence?
Here is “grouse” used in a sentence: “The 12th of August marks the start of grouse shooting season in Scotland.”
What part of speech is “grouse”?
Depending on how it is used, “grouse” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “grouse” come from?
The word “grouse” dates back to around 1530 and comes from Latin. First recorded in the 1530s for the bird; the origin is uncertain, possibly linked to French or Latin words for "crane" or simply imitating the bird's call. The complaining sense developed later from the noun.
How many meanings does “grouse” have?
“Grouse” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a plump game bird found in moorland and northern regions, often hunted for sport and food.
