From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
grouse
n 1: flesh of any of various grouse of the family Tetraonidae;
usually roasted; flesh too dry to broil
2: popular game bird having a plump body and feathered legs and
feet
v 1: hunt grouse
2: complain; "What was he hollering about?" [syn: gripe,
crab, beef, squawk, bellyache, holler]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Grouse \Grouse\, v. i.
1. To seek or shoot grouse.
[1913 Webster]
2. To complain or grumble; as, employees grousing about their
incompetent boss. [informal]
[PJC]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Grouse \Grouse\ (grous), n. sing. & pl. [Prob. after the analogy
of mouse, mice, fr. the earlier grice, OF. griesche meor hen:
cf. F. piegri[`e]che shrike.] (Zool.)
Any of the numerous species of gallinaceous birds of the
family {Tetraonid[ae]}, and subfamily {Tetraonin[ae]},
inhabiting Europe, Asia, and North America. They have plump
bodies, strong, well-feathered legs, and usually mottled
plumage. The group includes the ptarmigans (Lagopus),
having feathered feet.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Among the European species are the red grouse ({Lagopus
Scoticus}) and the hazel grouse (Bonasa betulina).
See Capercaidzie, Ptarmigan, and Heath grouse.
Among the most important American species are the
ruffed grouse, or New England partridge ({Bonasa
umbellus}); the sharp-tailed grouse ({Pedioc[ae]tes
phasianellus}) of the West; the dusky blue, or pine
grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) of the Rocky Mountains;
the Canada grouse, or spruce partridge ({D.
Canadensis}). See also Prairie hen, and Sage cock.
The Old World sand grouse (Pterocles, etc.) belong to
a very different family. See Pterocletes, and {Sand
grouse}.
[1913 Webster]