Heath hen

Heath Heath (h[=e]th), n. [OE. heth waste land, the plant heath, AS. h[=ae][eth]; akin to D. & G. heide, Icel. hei[eth]r waste land, Dan. hede, Sw. hed, Goth. hai[thorn]i field, L. bucetum a cow pasture; cf. W. coed a wood, Skr. ksh[=e]tra field. [root]20.] 1. (Bot.) (a) A low shrub ({Erica vulgaris} or {Calluna vulgaris}), with minute evergreen leaves, and handsome clusters of pink flowers. It is used in Great Britain for brooms, thatch, beds for the poor, and for heating ovens. It is also called {heather}, and {ling}. (b) Also, any species of the genus {Erica}, of which several are European, and many more are South African, some of great beauty. See Illust. of {Heather}. [1913 Webster]

2. A place overgrown with heath; any cheerless tract of country overgrown with shrubs or coarse herbage. [1913 Webster]

Their stately growth, though bare, Stands on the blasted heath. --Milton [1913 Webster]

{Heath cock} (Zo["o]l.), the blackcock. See {Heath grouse} (below).

{Heath grass} (Bot.), a kind of perennial grass, of the genus {Triodia} ({Triodia decumbens}), growing on dry heaths.

{Heath grouse}, or {Heath game} (Zo["o]l.), a European grouse ({Tetrao tetrix}), which inhabits heaths; -- called also {black game}, {black grouse}, {heath poult}, {heath fowl}, {moor fowl}. The male is called {heath cock}, and {blackcock}; the female, {heath hen}, and {gray hen}.

{Heath hen}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Heath grouse} (above).

{Heath pea} (Bot.), a species of bitter vetch ({Lathyrus macrorhizus}), the tubers of which are eaten, and in Scotland are used to flavor whisky.

{Heath throstle} (Zo["o]l.), a European thrush which frequents heaths; the ring ouzel. [1913 Webster]