brood-hen

A brood-hen sits on her eggs in the straw.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A hen that is sitting on eggs to hatch them: "brood-hen" refers to a female domestic fowl that is in the state of incubating a clutch of eggs, typically characterized by a warm, protective posture and reduced activity.

Usage Examples

• (A hen used for incubating eggs.)
• (The hen sat continuously to hatch the eggs.)

Advanced Usage

• "Brood-hen" can be used metaphorically to describe a person who is excessively protective or nurturing, especially a mother.
  • She became a brood-hen over her children, never letting them out of her sight. (She was overly protective and attentive.)

Variants and Related Words

• Brood (n): a family of young animals, especially birds, produced at one hatching or birth.

  • The hen led her brood across the yard. (The hen guided her chicks.)

• Hen (n): a female bird, especially of a domestic fowl kept for laying eggs.

  • The hen clucked softly to her chicks. (The female chicken made a low sound.)

• Broodiness (n): the state or quality of a hen wanting to sit on eggs.

  • The hen's broodiness made her reluctant to leave the nest. (Her desire to incubate eggs kept her on the nest.)

Synonyms

• Sitting hen: a hen that is incubating eggs.
• Clucking hen: a hen that makes a clucking sound while brooding.

Phrasal Verbs

Related Idioms

• "As patient as a brood-hen": extremely patient and persistent, especially in waiting for something.
  • She waited for the results as patiently as a brood-hen. (She waited with great patience and endurance.)