Recently I found an interesting bit of thanksgiving history. The only firsthand account of it comes from a 1621 Letter from pilgrim Edward Winslow:

“Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”

I was curious, he never used the word “Turkey”, but he talks quite a bit about “fowl”. Was the word “fowl” in 17th century English used to denote any kind of bird you would go hunting for? Or did it denote a specific kind of bird?