grousen.1
/ɡraʊs/, U.S. /ɡraʊs/ 1.
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a. In scientific use, any of the gallinaceous birds having feathered feet (the family Tetraonidæ of many naturalists, of which the largest genera are Tetrao and Lagopus).
b. In popular use, restricted almost entirely to the reddish-coloured game bird of the British Islands, Lagopus (formerly Tetrao) scoticus, more particularly called Red Grouse, and also commonly known as Moor Fowl or Moor Game.Besides the Red Grouse, the most important British varieties are: Black Grouse (see as main entry). Wood Grouse n. (or Great Grouse) the capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus. White Grouse n. Lagopus mutus, the ptarmigan, locally called also Rock Grouse. Other European and American varieties are: Canada Grouse (see the first element), called also Spotted Grouse. Dusky Grouse n. Canace or Dendragapus obscurus. Pinnated Grouse n. Cupidonia cupido. Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus; another species is the hazel grouse n., B. silvestris. Sage Grouse n. Centrocercus urophasianus. Sharp-tailed Grouse n. a grouse of the genus Pediœcetes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Tetraonidae (grouse) > [noun] > genus Lagopus > lagopus lagopus (red grouse)
moorfowl1504
grouse1531
moor game1611
red game1673
red grouse1769
willow partridge1772
red cock1775
moor-bird1812
red ptarmigan1819
willow grouse1850
willow ptarmigan1872
willow ptarmigan1872
1531 Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. in Archæol. III. 157 [Among fowl for the tables are crocards, winders, runners, grows, and peions].
a1547 in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 220 Prices of all kindes of Poultry-stuff..Grewes 14d.
1603 Act 1 Jas. I c. 27 §1 Any Phesant Partridge..Ducke Teale Wigeon Grouse Heathcocke Moregame [etc.].
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Francoule,..as Francolin; or (as some imagine) our Moore-game, or Grouse.
1674 J. Josselyn Acct. Two Voy. 99 They are indeed a sort of Partridges called Grooses.
1678 J. Ray tr. F. Willughby Ornithol. 173 The Heathcock or Black game or Grous, called by Turner the Morehen.
1735 J. Swift Receipt to Stella in Wks. II. 219 The Squires in Scorn will fly the House For better Game, and look for Grouse.
1768 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. (new ed.) I. ii. 205 The Francolino is not the same with our grous.
1769 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 7) IV. 244 Partridge, Groust, Plover..and Snipes.
1772 J. R. Forster in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 62 397 1. The great Cock of the Wood, Tetrao Urogallus Linn... 3. The Spotted Grous, T. Canadensis, T. Canace. 4. The Ruffed Grous, T. Umbellus. 5. The Shoulder-knot Grous, T. Togatus.
1773 J. R. Forster in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 63 229 The common Grous..is well known to be a bird of most excellent flavour.
1793 R. Burns Poems (ed. 2) II. 171 Ye grouss that crap the heather bud.
1801 R. Southey Thalaba II. xi. 284 From yonder pines they hear The clatter of the Grouse's wings.
1808 Z. M. Pike Acct. Exped. Sources Mississippi (1810) 44 Killed nothing but five prairie hens..this bird I took to be the same as grouse.
1828 J. Stark Elements Nat. Hist. I. 277 Tetrao lagopus, Lin. Ptarmigan or White Grous.
1893 Westm. Gaz. 1 Apr. 6/1 The prairie chickens (sharp-tailed grouse) meet every morning at grey dawn in companies of from six to twenty.
1894 Outing 24 385/1 The pinnated grouse, or prairie chicken.
1900 Longman's Mag. Mar. 447 Colonel Dasent went off to shoot grouse.
c. Applied to birds of the genera Syrrhaptes and Pterocles, the sand-grouse n., formerly referred to the genus Tetrao.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Pteroclidae (sand-grouse)
grouse1772
sand-grouse1783
rock pigeon1834
sand pigeon1884
1772 J. R. Forster in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 62 397 The Pyrenæan Grous, T[etrao] Alchata, Linn.
d. The flesh of the bird.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > game > [noun] > flesh of game birds > specific game birds
partridgec1330
pheasantc1330
grouse1786
1786 J. Wolcot Bozzy & Piozzi i, in Wks. (1816) I. 258 With ev'ry rarity she fill'd her house, And gave the doctor, for his dinner, grouse.
1899 Phil. Robinson in Contemp. Rev. Dec. 794 I saw a scrap of grouse thrown to a pug.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [noun] > state or quality of being contemptible > contemptible person
wormc825
wretchOE
thingOE
hinderlingc1175
harlot?c1225
mixa1300
villain1303
whelpc1330
wonnera1340
bismera1400
vilec1400
beasta1425
creaturec1450
dog bolt1465
fouling?a1475
drivel1478
shit1508
marmoset1523
mammeta1529
pilgarlica1529
pode1528
slave1537
slim1548
skit-brains?1553
grasshopper1556
scavenger1563
old boss1566
rag1566
shrub1566
ketterela1572
shake-rag1571
skybala1572
mumpsimus1573
smatchetc1582
squib1586
scabship1589
vassal1589
baboon1592
Gibraltar1593
polecat1593
mushroom1594
nodc1595
cittern-head1598
nit1598
stockfish1598
cum-twang1599
dish-wash1599
pettitoe1599
mustard-token1600
viliaco1600
cargo1602
stump1602
snotty-nose1604
sprat1605
wormling1605
brock1607
dogfly?1611
shag-rag1611
shack-rag1612
thrum1612
rabbita1616
fitchock1616
unworthy1616
baseling1618
shag1620
glow-worm1624
snip1633
the son of a worm1633
grousea1637
shab1637
wormship1648
muckworm1649
whiffler1659
prig1679
rotten egg1686
prigster1688
begged fool1693
hang-dog1693
bugger1694
reptile1697
squinny1716
snool1718
ramscallion1734
footer1748
jackass1756
hallion1789
skite1790
rattlesnake1791
snot1809
mudworm1814
skunk1816
stirrah1816
spalpeen1817
nyaff1825
skin1825
weed1825
tiger1827
beggar1834
despicability1837
squirt1844
prawn1845
shake1846
white mouse1846
scurf1851
sweep1853
cockroach1856
bummer1857
medlar1859
cunt1860
shuck1862
missing link1863
schweinhund1871
creepa1876
bum1882
trashbag1886
tinhorn1887
snot-rag1888
rodent1889
whelpling1889
pie eatera1891
mess1891
schmuck1892
fucker1893
cheapskate1894
cocksucker1894
gutter-bird1896
perisher1896
skate1896
schmendrick1897
nyamps1900
ullage1901
fink1903
onion1904
punk1904
shitepoke1905
tinhorn sport1906
streeler1907
zob1911
stink1916
motherfucker1918
Oscar1918
shitass1918
shit-face1923
tripe-hound1923
gimp1924
garbage can1925
twerp1925
jughead1926
mong1926
fuck?1927
arsehole1928
dirty dog1928
gazook1928
muzzler1928
roach1929
shite1929
mook1930
lug1931
slug1931
woodchuck1931
crud1932
dip1932
bohunkus1933
lint-head1933
Nimrod1933
warb1933
fuck-piga1935
owl-hoot1934
pissant1935
poot1935
shmegegge1937
motheree1938
motorcycle1938
squiff1939
pendejo1940
snotnose1941
jerkface1942
slag1943
yuck1943
fuckface?1945
fuckhead?1945
shit-head1945
shite-hawk1948
schlub1950
asswipe1953
mother1955
weenie1956
hard-on1958
rass hole1959
schmucko1959
bitch ass1961
effer1961
lamer1961
arsewipe1962
asshole1962
butthole1962
cock1962
dipshit1963
motherfuck1964
dork1965
bumhole1967
mofo1967
tosspot1967
crudball1968
dipstick1968
douche1968
frickface1968
schlong1968
fuckwit1969
rassclaat1969
ass1970
wank1970
fecker1971
wanker1971
butt-fucker1972
slimeball1972
bloodclaat1973
fuckwad1974
mutha1974
suck1974
cocksuck1977
tosser1977
plank1981
sleazebag1981
spastic1981
dweeb1982
bumboclaat1983
dickwad1983
scuzzbag1983
sleazeball1983
butt-face1984
dickweed1984
saddie1985
butt plug1986
jerkweed1988
dick-sucker1989
microcephalic1989
wankstain1990
sadster1992
buttmunch1993
fanny1995
jackhole1996
fassyhole1997
fannybaws2000
fassy2002
a1637 B. Jonson Tale of Tub ii. ii. 12 in Wks. (1640) III Looke to 't, young growse . View more context for this quotation
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
grouse-butt n.
ΚΠ
1904 Westm. Gaz. 26 Aug. 3/1 One of the unfailing topics that come up..for debate..is the mental attitude of the driven grouse towards the grouse-butt. The opinion of the good men of old, who were in their prime in the beginning of the grouse-driving, [etc.].
grouse-chick n.
ΚΠ
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 11 Aug. 5/2 The young grouse-chicks.
grouse-cock n.
ΚΠ
1861 G. H. Kingsley in F. Galton Vacation Tourists & Trav. 1860 138 Scrambling upwards along the bed of the burn, startling the grousecock.
1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 63 And the grouse-cock gaily crowing Fears not either dog or gun.
grouse-disease n.
ΚΠ
1884 St. James's Gaz. 22 Aug. 7/1 Mr. Speedy discusses the question of grouse-disease at considerable length.
grouse-drive n.
ΚΠ
1882 Society 21 Oct. 19/1 The setting out for a deer-drive or a grouse-drive is romantic.
grouse-dung n.
grouse-hackle n.
ΚΠ
1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling vi. 213 The Grouse Hackle..a capital hot weather fly.
grouse-land n.
ΚΠ
1897 Daily Chron. 22 July 4/5 The grouse lands of Ireland.
grouse-moor n.
ΚΠ
1862 C. Kingsley Water-babies iv, in Macmillan's Mag. Nov. 1/1 He..smelt..the wafts of heather honey off the grouse-moor far above.
grouse-pie n.
ΚΠ
1770 E. Montagu Let. 31 Aug. in D. Garrick Private Corr. (1831) I. 395 I shall endeavour to send you a grouse pie.
1861 I. M. Beeton Bk. Househ. Managem. xxiii. 516 (heading) Grouse Pie.
1931 H. Nicolson Diary 26 Sept. (1966) 92 We have..grouse~pie and mushrooms.
grouse-protector n.
ΚΠ
1895 Mountain, Moor & Loch 93 Little rattling squares of tin hung at intervals along the telegraph wires, and particularly at the opening of glens. These are known as ‘grouse protectors’, and are hung thus in order that their noise in the wind may warn the grouse of the existence of a danger.
grouse-shooter n.
ΚΠ
1832 Chambers' Edinb. Jrnl. 14 July 187/1 A neat little mountain inn, much frequented..by fishers and grouse-shooters.
1861 G. H. Kingsley in F. Galton Vacation Tourists & Trav. 1860 126 The blue hare..is a..plague both to the sheep-farmer..and the grouse-shooter.
grouse-sledge n.
ΚΠ
1892 Sir R. Payne-Gallwey in Field 14 May 733/2 Grouse Sledge. [Contains] a receptacle for the grouse, cartridge bags, &c.
b.
grouse-breeding adj.
ΚΠ
1898 Daily News 20 Dec. 7/3 As he walked with his guests over his sheep feeding and grouse-breeding estate.
grouse-driving n.
ΚΠ
1904Grouse-driving [see grouse-butt n. at Compounds 1a].
1933 Times Lit. Suppl. 16 Mar. 175/4 The no less difficult art of grouse-driving on a Yorkshire moor.
grouse-shooting n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > shooting > [noun] > grouse-shooting
grousing1771
grouse-shooting1785
dogging1886
1785 G. A. Bellamy Apol. Life (ed. 2) I. 163 Grouse shooting claimed his attention in Autumn, and hunting in winter.
1814 W. Scott Waverley I. vi. 81 The diversion of grouse-shooting upon his moors in Perthshire. View more context for this quotation
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. III. 251 Some quiet grouse-shooting or deer-stalking resort in the Highlands of Scotland.
grouse-stalking n.
ΚΠ
1893 J. Watson Confess. Poacher 122 Grouse stalking is fascinating sport, done from behind an old moorland horse.
C2.
grouse-berry n. U.S. the blueberry, Vaccinium scoparium; cf. deerberry n.
ΚΠ
1804 A. F. M. Willich Domest. Encycl. III. 150/2 It is called Canadian Gaultheria, or Mountain Tea, Grouse-berry, Deer-berry, Ground-ivy.
1932 P. A. Rydberg Flora Prairies & Plains Central N. Amer. 618 V[accinium] scoparium... Grouse-berry.
grouse-pigeon n. the sand-grouse.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
grousen.2
/ɡraʊs/, U.S. /ɡraʊs/ slang.
A grumble or complaint: a reason for grumbling.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > [noun] > a complaint
plainta1275
groinc1374
complaintc1385
murmura1393
grutchc1460
plainc1475
yammer?a1513
puling?1529
objecting1552
obmurmuration1571
regratea1586
repine1593
grumblinga1616
grumble1623
dissatisfactionc1640
obmurmuring1642
rumbling1842
natter1866
grouch1895
beef1900
holler1901
squawk1909
moan1911
yip1911
grouse1918
gripe1934
crib1943
bitch1945
drip1945
kvetch1957
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > [noun] > cause or ground of complaint
gravament1537
complaint1732
beef1900
pet peeve1909
grouse1918
1918 W. Owen Let. 17 July (1967) 564 I'll make my grouse. Why didn't you come to Scarborough for a few days?
1918 W. Owen Let. 15 Oct. (1967) 585 The Parcel came all right; my only grouse is that it was too big.
1923 Pictorial Weekly CXIX. 127/1 A Transfer ‘Grouse’.
1927 Daily Express 27 Apr. 3/1 I cannot understand the point of view of the hanging committee... I have no grouse against them. I am not an Academician, but I do not agree with their choice.
1927 Daily Express 5 Oct. 3/4 The ‘moan’ of a Gun Room is the naval version of an Army ‘grouse’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
grouseadj.
/ɡraʊs/, U.S. /ɡraʊs/, Australian English /ɡræɔs/, New Zealand English /ɡræus/ Australian and New Zealand slang.
Excellent, very good.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
1938 E. Partridge Dict. Slang (ed. 2) Add. 1000/2 The grouse. (Only predicatively.) Very good: Australian cant: C.20. Origin?]
1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 33 Grouce, grouse, good, excellent.
1945 L. Glassop We were Rats i. i. 5 You know them two grouse sheilas we've got the meet on with tomorrer night?
1947 D. M. Davin Gorse blooms Pale 200 An Iti bint, a real grouse brush she was, with bonzer black eyes.
1963 Australasian Post (Melbourne) 14 Mar. 51/2 ‘Real good, Knobs... How about you?’ ‘Extra grouse.’
1968 Telegraph (Brisbane) 1 May 24/3 (heading) Grouse slang guide.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
grousev.1
/ɡraʊs/, U.S. /ɡraʊs/ intransitive. To shoot grouse. Also transferred (cf. snipe v.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > shooting > shoot [verb (intransitive)] > manner or type of
grousec1798
to set up1824
to shoot for the stick1834
to go to rode1838
to fire into the brown (of them)1845
set1859
hold ahead1881
hold on1881
rough-shoot1937
c1798 Hope in R. R. Madden Lit. Remains United Irishmen (1887) 100 In Wexford and Wicklow 'tis said That Orange for Croppies went grousing.
1802 R. L. Edgeworth & M. Edgeworth Ess. Irish Bulls xvi. 292 He had in former times gone out a grousing, near Cork, with our hero.
1824 Mirror 3 151/1 A gentleman, residing near Cader Idris, while grousing in that neighbourhood [etc.].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
grousev.2
/ɡraʊs/, /ɡruːs/, U.S. /ɡraʊs/ Army slang.
intransitive. To grumble.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > complain [verb (intransitive)]
murkeOE
misspeakOE
yomer971
chidea1000
murkenOE
grutch?c1225
mean?a1300
hum13..
plainta1325
gruntc1325
plainc1325
musea1382
murmurc1390
complain1393
contrary1393
flitec1400
pinea1425
grummec1430
aggrudge1440
hoinec1440
mutterc1450
grudge1461
channerc1480
grunch1487
repine1529
storm?1553
expostulate1561
grumblea1586
gruntle1591
chunter1599
swagger1599
maunder1622
orp1634
objurgate1642
pitter1672
yelp1706
yammer1794
natter1804
murgeon1808
groan1816
squawk1875
jower1879
grouse1887
beef1888
to whip the cat1892
holler1904
yip1907
peeve1912
grouch1916
nark1916
to sound off1918
create1919
moana1922
crib1925
tick1925
bitch1930
gripe1932
bind1942
drip1942
kvetchc1950
to rag on1979
wrinch2011
1887 R. Kipling From Sea to Sea (1899) II. 396 That's the only thing as 'ill make the Blue Lights stop grousin' and stiffin'... ‘Grousing’ is sulking, and ‘stiffin'’ is using unparliamentary language.
1892 R. Kipling Barrack-room Ballads 47 If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind, Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind.
1896 Daily News 2 July 9/1 The camels groused and gurgled afar off.
1897 Chambers's Jrnl. 86 It cannot be said with truth that British soldiers never grumble or ‘grouce’ as they call it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.11531
n.21918adj.1941v.1c1798v.21887