I. ˈfau̇l, esp before pause or consonant -au̇əl noun
( plural fowl or fowls )
Etymology: Middle English foul, from Old English fugel; akin to Old High German fogal bird, Old Norse fugl, Gothic fugls, and probably to Old High German fliogan to fly — more at fly
1. : a bird of any kind
dominion over … the fowl of the air — Gen 1:28 (Authorized Version)
watch the hungry ocean fowl breast its way southward — Llewelyn Powys
2.
a. : a domestic cock or hen : chicken ; especially : an adult hen — see domestic fowl
b. : any of several domesticated or wild gallinaceous birds
jungle fowl
guinea fowl
3. : the meat of fowls used as food ; especially : the meat of domestic fowls
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English foulen, from Old English fuglian, from fugel
: to seek, catch, or kill wild fowl for sport or food
such persons as may lawfully hunt, fish, or fowl — William Blackstone