1 an affectionate term of address for a girl or woman: These gentlemen are from the ‘Big Hoose, hen, and they want to ask you something. la18-.
2 a chicken ready for cooking la15-.
3 a cockerel: The old male hen was too busy crowing away good style on the slate roof of the outside cludgie [toilet] to waste time ... 20-. etymology: Old English; attested by JS, ET and BW