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

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."

A complaint.

"Her main grouse was the lack of parking."

verb

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

grouser comparative, groused past tense, groused past tense, grouse plural, grouses plural, grouses plural, grouses singular, grouses singular, grousest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “grouse” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

Origin: Latin · First attested 1530

Class of 1530 grouse joined the language around 1530.

bully Passover society syphilis

See the full Class of 1530 →

Rhymes for grouse

use muse ruse fuse abuse mouse cause house louse pause amuse douse

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.