a type of game bird hunted for food, or to complain or grumble about something.
The bird name comes from Old French 'grue' (crane-like bird), possibly from Latin 'grus.' The verb 'to grouse' (complain) developed separately in British military slang around 1885, origin unclear but possibly from the bird's harsh calls.
British soldiers in World War I called complaints 'grousing,' and historians think it might come from the harsh sounds grouse make—but honestly, the origin is disputed, making 'grouse' a word where we're not entirely sure why it means what it means.
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