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egg-bound

Primarily a poultry and avian husbandry term describing a hen or female bird that is unable to pass a fully formed egg through the oviduct, a potentially life-threatening condition.

ˈɛɡbənd180 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
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#1·Apr 28, 2026

Primarily a poultry and avian husbandry term describing a hen or female bird that is unable to pass a fully formed egg through the oviduct, a potentially life-threatening condition. In British slang, 'egg-bound' has also been used humorously as a euphemism for constipation in humans, drawing a playful parallel between the two conditions. The slang usage is fairly obscure and dated, while the literal veterinary sense remains in active use among chicken keepers and bird breeders.

The vet confirmed the hen was egg-bound and carefully massaged her abdomen to help her pass the egg.
Origin: Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
For parents

"egg-bound" means: Primarily a poultry and avian husbandry term describing a hen or female bird that is unable to pass a fully formed egg through the oviduct.... This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"egg-bound" means: Primarily a poultry and avian husbandry term describing a hen or female bird that is unable to pass a fully formed egg through the oviduct.... Register: informal slang, fine in casual conversation, texting and social media but not in academic essays, business writing or formal speech. Note the regional or dialect label (British) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word

Cluster: romantic_partner
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(UK, slang) Constipated.

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#3·Apr 27, 2026

(of a hen) Unable to pass an egg that has formed.

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For specific readers

"egg-bound" means: Primarily a poultry and avian husbandry term describing a hen or female bird that is unable to pass a fully formed egg through the oviduct.... This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

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