Grouse

n. [Perhaps from gorse, furze or heath, whence gorcock, for gorse-cock, the red grouse; W. grug-iar, i. e., heath-hen. Cf. Per. khurōs or khorōs, a dunghill cock.] (Ornith.) A stout-legged rasorial bird, having feathered feet and a very short bill, and highly prized for food. The ruffled grouse (Bonasia umbellus) is called pheasant in the Middle, and partridge in the New England, States. The red grouse of England is the Tetrao (or Lagopus) Scoticus.