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hen
hen while a hen may be taken as the type of a foolish woman, a hen with her chickens may symbolize Christ, in allusion to Jesus's words in Matthew ch. 23, ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.’
as scarce as hen's teeth very rare; as hens do not possess teeth, the implication is that something is rare to the point of non-existence. Originally (mid 19th century) a US colloquialism. like a hen with one chick absurdly fussy and over-anxious. See also a whistling woman and a crowing hen. |
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Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "hen." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "hen." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-hen.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "hen." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-hen.html |
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hen
hen / hen/ • n. a female bird, esp. of a domestic fowl. ∎ (hens) domestic fowls of either sex. ∎ used in names of birds, esp. waterbirds of the rail family, e.g., moorhen. ∎ a female lobster, crab, or salmon. PHRASES: as rare (or scarce) as hen's teeth extremely rare. |
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"hen." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "hen." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-hen.html "hen." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-hen.html |
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hen
hen female of the domestic fowl OE.; female of other birds XIV. OE. henn = MLG. henne, OHG. henna (G. henne) :- WGmc. *χannja, f. Gmc. *χanan- cock (OE. hana, OS., OHG. hano, Du. haan, G. hahn, ON. hani, Goth. hanō, rel. to L. canere sing.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "hen." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "hen." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-hen.html T. F. HOAD. "hen." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-hen.html |
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Hen
Hen in the Bible, man who was to have a memorial in the temple. |
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"Hen." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Hen." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Hen.html "Hen." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Hen.html |
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hen
hen
•Adrienne, again, amen, Ardennes, Behn, Ben, Benn, Bren, cayenne, Cévennes, Dairen, den, en, fen, gen, glen, Glenn, Guyenne, Gwen, hen, julienne, Karen, ken, Len, Loren, men, Nene, Ogaden, paren, pen, Penn, Phnom Penh, Rennes, Shenzhen, Sun Yat-sen, ten, then, Tlemcen, when, wren, yen, zazen, Zen
•Chechen • Nurofen • peahen
•moorhen • Origen • allergen • admen
•bagmen, ragmen, swagmen
•packmen • gasmen • taxmen
•jazzmen • ramen • yardmen • legmen
•chessmen • repairmen • flamen
•mailmen • cavemen • he-men
•freedmen • milkmen • linkmen
•middlemen • wingmen • hitmen
•handymen • bogeymen • hymen
•icemen • conmen • strongmen
•lawmen, strawmen
•cognomen, nomen, praenomen, snowmen
•patrolmen • oilmen • Shumen
•newsmen
•frontmen, stuntmen
•firemen, wiremen
•anchormen • newspapermen
•cameramen • motormen
•weathermen • mermen • playpen
•pigpen • fountain pen • bullpen
•samisen • Leuven • Ceinwen
•somewhen
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Cite this article
"hen." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "hen." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-hen.html "hen." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-hen.html |
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