a game bird, Dendragapus canadensis, occurring in Canadian coniferous forests
spruce grouse in American English
US
a gray, black, and brown grouse (Canachites canadensis) of the spruce forests of N North America
spruce grouse in American English
noun
a grouse, Canachites canadensis, of coniferous forests of northern North America, that feeds on evergreen buds and needles
Word origin
[1835–45, Amer.]This word is first recorded in the period 1835–45. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: communism, daisy chain, placement, protein, serial