fool hen

fool hen ExamplesWord Origin noun

any of various grouse, as the spruce grouse, that can be killed easily because of their relative tameness.

Origin of fool hen First recorded in 1750–60 Examples from the Web for fool hen Historical Examples of fool hen

I suppose you didn’t notice if you hit that fool-hen, Colonel Cruickshank?

Clive Phillipps-Wolley

This evening luck had deserted his fishing, so the trapper took a rifle and went into the woods after a fool-hen.

Vingie E. Roe

If a poor cackling grouse or “fool-hen” be thrust into the pit, the Indian is almost sure to find a prisoner.

A. C. Laut