broody

Meanings

Noun

• A female bird in the condition to incubate eggs; a broody hen, duck, etc.

Adjective

• Of birds: sitting persistently and protectively on a nest, in order to hatch eggs.
• Of any creature or person: showing an interest in raising young.

Related

Similar words

• clucky

Origin

• From Middle English *brody, *brodi, from Old English brōdiġ ("broody"), equivalent to brood + -y. Cognate with German brütig ("broody").