[Cf. TURKEY-COCK.]

1

  † 1.  The guinea-hen. Obs.

2

1552.  Elyot, Meleagrides, byrdes, whiche we doo call hennes of Genny, or Turkie hennes.

3

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, II. lii. 214. Called … Flos Meleagris … from a kinde of birde … whose feathers be speckled … not with Violet speckes, but with white and blacke spots, lyke to the feathers of the Turkie or Ginny hen, which is called Meleagris auis: some do also cal this flower Fritillaria.

4

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 296. The Ginnie or Turkey hens in a part of Africke called Numidia, be in great request.

5

  2.  The female of the turkey.

6

1555.  Eden, Decades, 158. They [of Yucatan] brought … eyght of their hennes beynge as bygge as peacockes, of brownyshe coloure, and not inferiour to peacockes in pleasaunte tast. [margin] Turky hens.

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1580.  Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Poule d’Inde, a Turkie henne.

8

1592.  Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham), 72. Towe turkes and onne turkie henne vijs.

9

1760.  [see TURKEY-COCK 3].

10

1844.  Stephens, Bk. Farm, II. 710. When a turkey-hen is seen disposed to lay, a nest should be made for her in the hatching-house.

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