Note: 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, f[*a]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}, or {Barnyard fowl}, a fowl that frequents
the barnyard; the common domestic cock or hen.
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.