peahen
(ˈpiːhɛn)
Forms: α. 5–6 pehen, -henne, (6 peyhen), 7 pea-henne, 7– pea-hen. β. 4–5 pohenne, -hen, poohenne.
[f. ME. pê-, OE. péa + henne hen. Collateral form po-hen(ne, f. po, poo:—OE. páwa + henne.]
A female peafowl, the female of the peacock.
| α c 1400 [see 1377 in β]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 390/1 Pehenne, pavona. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §146 All clouen foted foules wyll syt but thre wekes, except a peyhen. 1570 Levins Manip. 61/11 A Pehen, paua. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iii. vii. 121 The daily Incubation of Ducks, Peahens, and many other. 1845 Disraeli Sybil iii. viii, His daughters who tossed their heads like pea-hens—Lady Joan and Lady Maud. 1874 Chambers's Encycl. VII. 341/1 The Peahen is much smaller than the male bird, has no train, and is of dull plumage, mostly brownish. |
| β 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 240 Þe pekok & þe pohenne proude [v.rr. pehen, pohen]. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xii. xxxii. (Bodl. MS.), Þe poohenne sitteth abrode xxx. daies and a litel what more. |