Fowl (?), n. 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, fågel, 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.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air. Gen. i. 26.
Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not. Matt. vi. 26.
Like a flight of fowl
Scattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts. Shak.
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).
Barndoor fowl, orBarnyard fowl, a fowl that frequents the barnyard; the common domestic cock or hen.