Grouse

Pronunciation

• IPA: /É¡raÊŠs/
• Rhymes: -aÊŠs

Attested in the 1530s, as grows, a plural used collectively.

Of unknown origin.

Full definition of grouse

Noun

1. Any of various game birds of the family Tetraonidae which inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere.

Verb

1. To seek or shoot grouse.

As a verb from the late 19th century (first recorded by Kipling), as a noun from the early 20th; origin uncertain, possibly from French groucier "to murmur, grumble", in origin onomatopoeic. Compare grutch with the same meaning, but attestation from the 1200s, whence also grouch.

Noun

1. A cause for complaint.

Verb

1. To complain or grumble.
• 1890, Kipling, If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,Don't grouse like a woman, nor crack on, nor blind;Be handy and civil, and then you will findThat it's beer for the young British soldier.

1940s, origin uncertain.

Adjective

1. (Australian, NZ, slang) Excellent.I had a grouse day.That food was grouse.
• 1991, Tim Winton, , Scribner Paperback Fiction 2002, page 182,They were the grousest ladies she′d ever met.
• 1998, July 23, Stujo, SPOILER FTF - questions, Not a question but the gag of Mulder pissing on the ID4 poster was grouse.
• 2003, October 4, Leeroy, FS Ultralight Aircraft, I know, but I moved from riding bikes to flying and it is a great move. All riders without a fear of heights I know that flew with me thought it was grouse- and there are no coppers or speed limits up there.

Anagrams

• rogues
• rouges
• rugose