fen, n. [AS. fen, fenn, marsh, mud, dirt; akin to D. veen, OFries. fenne, fene, OHG. fenna, G. fenn, Icel. fen, Goth. fani mud.].

Low land overflowed, or covered wholly or partially with water, but producing sedge, coarse grasses, or other aquatic plants; boggy land; moor; marsh. [1913 Webster]

" Fen is used adjectively with the sense of belonging to, or of the nature of, a fen or fens." [1913 Webster]

"'Mid reedy fens wide spread." [1913 Webster]

Fen boat, a boat of light draught used in marshes. -- Fen duck (Zoöl.), a wild duck inhabiting fens; the shoveler. [Prov. Eng.] -- Fen fowl (Zoöl.), any water fowl that frequent fens. -- Fen goose (Zoöl.), the graylag goose of Europe. [Prov. Eng.] -- Fen land, swamp land.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

fen, n.
1 a low marshy or flooded area of land.
2 (the Fens) flat low-lying areas in and around Cambridgeshire.

Idiom

fen-berry (pl. -berries) a cranberry. fen-fire will-o'-the-wisp.

Derivative

fenny adj.

Etymology

OE fenn f. Gmc

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ROGET THESAURUS

fen

Marsh

N marsh, swamp, morass, marish, moss, fen, bog, quagmire, slough, sump, wash, mud, squash, slush, baygall, cienaga, jhil, vlei, marsh, marshy, swampy, boggy, plashy, poachy, quaggy, soft, muddy, sloppy, squashy, paludal, moorish, moory, fenny.

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