broody

English

Etymology

From Middle English *brody, *brodi, from Old English brōdiġ (“broody”), equivalent to brood +‎ -y. Cognate with German brütig (“broody”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɹuːdi/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːdi

Noun

broody (plural broodies)

1. A female bird in the condition to incubate eggs; a broody hen, duck, etc.

   There are six broodies in that coop.

Translations

female bird in the condition to incubate eggs

• Galician: choca (gl) f
• German: Glucke (de) f, Henne (de) f
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: verpende, verpesyk (no) (resulting behaviour as a consequence of broodiness)

• Persian: کرچ‎ (fa) (korč)
• Polish: nieśna f

• Russian: насе́дка (ru) f (nasédka)
• Scottish Gaelic: (hen) cearc-ghur f
• Spanish: clueca (es) f, culeca (es) f
• Ukrainian: кво́чка (uk) f (kvóčka)

Adjective

broody (comparative broodier or more broody, superlative broodiest or most broody)

1. Of birds: sitting persistently and protectively on a nest, in order to hatch eggs.

   a broody hen

2. Of any creature or person: showing an interest in raising young.
3. Brooding

Synonyms

• (sitting on a nest to hatch eggs): clucky

Derived terms

• broodily
• broodiness

See also

• baby rabies
• biological clock

Translations

of birds sitting on a nest in order to hatch

• German: brütend (de)

• Irish: ar gor

Anagrams

• doobry