курочка ряба

[siriusly]

Please explain "курочка ряба". It is the name of a Russian fairy tale (Русские народные сказки). I know курочка means- pullet (a young hen); but I cannot find the word "ряба", which probably is some type of grouse (рябчик). Is it just a chicken? Is it a domesticated bird? Is this a really old word that described birds that Russians no longer use?
thanks

[Jenzz]

Hi!

You are right.
"Курочка" = pullet (a young hen).
"Ряба" is derived from "рябой" (speckled, piebald, dappled).
"Курочка ряба" is common noun of all chickens because there are lot of speckled chickens in Russia.
It isn't old word. It's usually used only in fairy tales.

So, "курочка ряба" is really chicken

[Eugene]

Jenzz, мы никогда не называли ВСЕХ кур ни "Курочка Ряба", ни просто "Ряба". Мы можем дать ей имя "Ряба". Как собирательное - Ряба никогда не использовалось.

Курочка = diminutive from "курица" (we can call it tenderly sometimes, especially in fairytales).
Ряба is the name of that chiken. And it is really derived from "Рябой".

We can call a young hen as "Курочка", but not in this case.
Перечитайте эту сказку еще раз. Там нет ни одного указания на возраст этой курицы. Хотя я бы от такой не отказался...