The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Partridge \Par"tridge\ (p[aum]r"tr[i^]j), n. [OE. partriche,
pertriche, OF. pertris, perdriz, F. perdrix, L. perdix,
-icis, fr. Gr. pe`rdix.] (Zool.)
1. Any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of
the genus Perdix and several related genera of the
family Perdicid[ae], of the Old World. The partridge is
noted as a game bird.
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Full many a fat partrich had he in mew. --Chaucer.
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Note: The common European, or gray, partridge (Perdix
cinerea) and the red-legged partridge (Caccabis
rubra) of Southern Europe and Asia are well-known
species.
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2. Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging
to Colinus, and allied genera. [U.S.]
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Note: Among them are the bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) of
the Eastern States; the plumed, or mountain, partridge
(Oreortyx pictus) of California; the Massena
partridge (Cyrtonyx Montezum[ae]); and the California
partridge (Callipepla Californica).
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3. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). [New Eng.]
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Bamboo partridge (Zool.), a spurred partridge of the genus
Bambusicola. Several species are found in China and the
East Indies.
Night partridge (Zool.), the woodcock. [Local, U.S.]
Painted partridge (Zool.), a francolin of South Africa
(Francolinus pictus).
Partridge berry. (Bot.)
(a) The scarlet berry of a trailing american plant
(Mitchella repens) of the order Rubiace[ae],
having roundish evergreen leaves, and white fragrant
flowers sometimes tinged with purple, growing in pairs
with the ovaries united, and producing the berries
which remain over winter; also, the plant itself.
(b) The fruit of the creeping wintergreen (Gaultheria
procumbens); also, the plant itself.
Partridge dove (Zool.) Same as Mountain witch, under
Mountain.
Partridge pea (Bot.), a yellow-flowered leguminous herb
(Cassia Cham[ae]crista), common in sandy fields in the
Eastern United States.
Partridge shell (Zool.), a large marine univalve shell
(Dolium perdix), having colors variegated like those of
the partridge.
Partridge wood
(a) A variegated wood, much esteemed for cabinetwork. It
is obtained from tropical America, and one source of
it is said to be the leguminous tree Andira inermis.
Called also pheasant wood.
(b) A name sometimes given to the dark-colored and
striated wood of some kind of palm, which is used for
walking sticks and umbrella handles.
Sea partridge (Zool.), an Asiatic sand partridge
(Ammoperdix Bonhami); -- so called from its note.
Snow partridge (Zool.), a large spurred partridge (Lerwa
nivicola) which inhabits the high mountains of Asia;
called also jermoonal.
Spruce partridge. See under Spruce.
Wood partridge, or Hill partridge (Zool.), any small
Asiatic partridge of the genus Arboricola.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pheasant \Pheas"ant\ (f[e^]z"ant), n. [OE. fesant, fesaunt, OF.
faisant, faisan, F. faisan, L. phasianus, Gr. fasiano`s (sc.
'o`rnis) the Phasian bird, pheasant, fr. Fa`sis a river in
Colchis or Pontus.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large gallinaceous
birds of the genus Phasianus, and many other genera of
the family Phasianid[ae], found chiefly in Asia.
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Note: The
common pheasant, or English pheasant (Phasianus
Colchicus) is now found over most of temperate Europe,
but was introduced from Asia. The
ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus torquatus) and the
green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor) have been
introduced into Oregon. The
golden pheasant (Thaumalea picta) is one of the most
beautiful species. The
silver pheasant (Euplocamus nychthemerus) of China, and
several related species from Southern Asia, are very
beautiful.
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2. (Zool.) The ruffed grouse. [Southern U.S.]
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Note: Various other birds are locally called pheasants, as
the lyre bird, the leipoa, etc.
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Fireback pheasant. See Fireback.
Gold pheasant, or Golden pheasant (Zool.), a Chinese
pheasant (Thaumalea picta), having rich, varied colors.
The crest is amber-colored, the rump is golden yellow, and
the under parts are scarlet.
Mountain pheasant (Zool.), the ruffed grouse. [Local, U.S.]
Pheasant coucal (Zool.), a large Australian cuckoo
(Centropus phasianus). The general color is black, with
chestnut wings and brown tail. Called also pheasant
cuckoo. The name is also applied to other allied species.
Pheasant duck. (Zool.)
(a) The pintail.
(b) The hooded merganser.
Pheasant parrot (Zool.), a large and beautiful Australian
parrakeet (Platycercus Adelaidensis). The male has the
back black, the feathers margined with yellowish blue and
scarlet, the quills deep blue, the wing coverts and cheeks
light blue, the crown, sides of the neck, breast, and
middle of the belly scarlet.
Pheasant's eye. (Bot.)
(a) A red-flowered herb (Adonis autumnalis) of the
Crowfoot family; -- called also pheasant's-eye
Adonis.
(b) The garden pink (Dianthus plumarius); -- called also
Pheasant's-eye pink.
Pheasant shell (Zool.), any marine univalve shell of the
genus Phasianella, of which numerous species are found
in tropical seas. The shell is smooth and usually richly
colored, the colors often forming blotches like those of a
pheasant.
Pheasant wood. (Bot.) Same as Partridge wood
(a), under Partridge.
Sea pheasant (Zool.), the pintail.
Water pheasant. (Zool.)
(a) The sheldrake.
(b) The hooded merganser.
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