Fowl (?), n. Instead of the pl. Fowls the singular is often used collectively. [OE. foul, fowel, foghel, fuhel, fugel, AS. fugol; akin to OS. fugal D. & G. vogel, OHG. fogal, Icel. & Dan. fugl, Sw. fogel, fx86;gel, Goth. fugls; of unknown origin, possibly by loss of l, from the root of E. fly, or akin to E. fox, as being a tailed animal.]
1.
Any bird; esp., any large edible bird.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air.
Gen. i. 26.
Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not.
Matt. vi. 26.
Like a flight of fowl
Scattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts.
Shak.
2.
Any domesticated bird used as food, as a hen, turkey, duck; in a more restricted sense, the common domestic cock or hen (Gallus domesticus).
Barndoor fowl, ∨ Barnyard fowl, a fowl that frequents the barnyard; the common domestic cock or hen.
© Webster 1913.
Fowl, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fowled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fowling.]
To catch or kill wild fowl, for game or food, as by shooting, or by decoys, nets, etc.
Such persons as may lawfully hunt, fish, or fowl.
Blackstone.
Fowling piece, a light gun with smooth bore, adapted for the use of small shot in killing birds or small quadrupeds.
© Webster 1913.