gallinule

G2A1L1L1I1N1U1L1E1
/ˈɡælɪnjuːl/

noun

A bird of one of several species in the genera Porphyrio and Gallinula of the family Rallidae.

Similar
swamphenmarsh henwater hen
OriginFrench gallinule ← Latin gallinula →
RareScrabble 10
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Meanings

noungallinule (plural gallinules)

plural gallinules

  1. A bird of one of several species in the genera Porphyrio and Gallinula of the family Rallidae.

    Synonyms: swamphen

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA bird of one of several species in the genera Porphyrio and Gallinula of the family Rallidae.

Similar
swamphen

More synonyms by meaning

nounany of various small aquatic birds of the genus Gallinula distinguished from rails by a frontal shield and a resemblance to domestic hens

Similar
marsh henwater henswamphen
Broader
aquatic bird
Also see
marsh henmoorhenswamphenwater hen

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latingallinula
  2. Frenchgallinule
  3. Englishgallinule

From French gallinule, from Latin gallinula.

More words from French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish liejukana, sulttaanikana
  • liejukanabirds in genera Porphyrio and Gallinula
  • sulttaanikanabirds in genera Porphyrio and Gallinula
Cite this entry
APA

gallinule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gallinule

MLA

“gallinule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gallinule. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gallinule,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gallinule.

Source: gallinule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.