Definition of "water-hen" [water-hen]

• Some aquatic bird likened to a hen. (noun)
• An Australian bird nf the rail family and genus Tribonyx. See cut under Tribonyx, and compare water-cock. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "And not a bird was seen or heard, neither rail nor water-hen, wag-tail nor reed-warbler."
• "Their place on the water had been taken by a small fleet of ducks, mostly white Aylesburys, but with a visiting mallard in convoy, and one water-hen."
• "The males of the white and black water-hen have tails something like those of a pheasant."