[fowl] n, pl fowl or fowls [ME foul, fr. OE fugel; akin to OHG fogal bird, and prob. to OE fleogan to fly--more at fly] (bef. 12c) 1: a bird of any kind--compare waterfowl, wildfowl
2. a: a cock or hen of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus); esp: an adult hen b: any of several domesticated or wild gallinaceous birds--compare guinea fowl, jungle fowl
3: the meat of fowls used as food
[2]fowl vi (bef. 12c): to seek, catch, or kill wildfowl -- fowl.er n