FOWL, n. L. fugio, fugo, Gr. and signifying the flying animal.
A flying or winged animal the generic name of certain animals that move through the air by the aid of wings. Fowls have two feet, are covered with feathers, and have wings for flight. Bird is a young fowl or chicken, and may well be applied to the smaller species of fowls. But it has usurped the place of fowl, and is used improperly as the generic term.
Fowl is used as a collective noun. We dined on fish and fowl.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air. Genesis 1 .
But this use in America is not frequent. We generally use the plural, fowls. The word is colloquially used for poultry, or rather, in a more limited sense, for barn door fowls.
FOWL, To catch or kill wild fowls for game or food as by means of bird-lime, decoys, nets and snares, or by pursuing them with hawks, or by shooting.
The King James Bible has stood its ground for nearly 400 years. However, during that time the English language has changed, and with it the meanings of some words it used. Here are more than 6,500 words whose definitions have changed since 1611.Wikipedia
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