grouse

1 of 3

noun (1)

plural grouse or grouses
: any of various chiefly ground-dwelling birds (family Tetraonidae) that are usually of reddish-brown or other protective color and have feathered legs and that include many important game birds

grouse

2 of 3

verb

groused; grousing

intransitive verb

: complain, grumble
groused about the higher prices
grouser noun

grouse

3 of 3

noun (2)

: complaint
listened to their grouses about working conditions

Examples of grouse in a Sentence

Verb She's been grousing to her boss about the working conditions. Fans have groused that the higher prices are unfair. Noun (2) a forum in which employees can air their grouses
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The Office of the United States Trade Representative commemorated National Textiles Day on Saturday with a grouse. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019 From owls one night to frogs the next, with drumming ruffed grouse in-between, the weekend served up a Northwoods symphony at its finest. Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 10 May 2025
Verb
Instead of grousing, do this: Accept the fact that the brokerage has to cover its costs, but arrange your affairs so that some other customer picks them up. William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025 Hitters have groused about the park’s angled batter’s eye. Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for grouse

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (2)

derivative of grouse entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1531, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1887, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1918, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grouse was in 1531

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grouse. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

grouse

1 of 2 noun
plural grouse or grouses
: any of various plump-bodied game birds that are usually reddish or grayish brown with feathers on the legs

grouse

2 of 2 verb
groused; grousing
grouser noun

More from Merriam-Webster on grouse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!