broodiness

broodiness

English

Etymology

broody +‎ -ness

Noun

broodiness (uncountable)

1. The state of being broody
   • 1998 March 6, Cecil Adams, “The Straight Dope”, in Chicago Reader‎:

     In contrast, egg-producing white leghorn chickens have had the broodiness bred out of them.

   • 1991 September 13, Ted Shen, “Composing Women”, in Chicago Reader‎:

     Bohmes Liebeslied, for flute and piano, is arresting in its low-key broodiness; Bittersweet Music I, its piccolo a lonely bird in its nervous twitters, continued the despairing mood.

   • 1911, Milo M. Hastings, The Dollar Hen‎:

     When a hen shows signs of broodiness remove her to the sitting-room.