'Hen clam' definitions:

Definition of 'Hen clam'

From: GCIDE
  • Hen \Hen\, n. [AS. henn, hen, h[ae]n; akin to D. hen, OHG. henna, G. henne, Icel. h?na, Dan. h["o]na; the fem. corresponding to AS. hana cock, D. haan, OHG. hano, G. hahn, Icel. hani, Dan. & Sw. hane. Prob. akin to L. canere to sing, and orig. meaning, a singer. Cf. Chanticleer.] (Zool.) The female of the domestic fowl; also, the female of grouse, pheasants, or any kind of birds; as, the heath hen; the gray hen. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Used adjectively or in combination to indicate the female; as, hen canary, hen eagle, hen turkey, peahen. [1913 Webster]
  • Hen clam. (Zool.) (a) A clam of the Mactra, and allied genera; the sea clam or surf clam. See Surf clam. (b) A California clam of the genus Pachydesma.
  • Hen driver. See Hen harrier (below).
  • Hen harrier (Zool.), a hawk (Circus cyaneus), found in Europe and America; -- called also dove hawk, henharm, henharrow, hen driver, and usually, in America, {marsh hawk}. See Marsh hawk.
  • Hen hawk (Zool.), one of several species of large hawks which capture hens; esp., the American red-tailed hawk (Buteo borealis), the red-shouldered hawk ({Buteo lineatus}), and the goshawk. [1913 Webster]