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Webster 1913 Edition


Partridge

Par′tridge

(pär′trĭj)
,
Noun.
[OE.
partriche
,
pertriche
, OF.
pertris
,
perdriz
, F.
perdrix
, L.
perdix
,
-icis
, fr. Gr.
πέρδιξ
.]
(Zool.)
1.
Any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of the genus
Perdix
and several related genera of the family
Perdicidæ
, of the Old World. The partridge is noted as a game bird.
Full many a fat
partrich
had he in mew.
Chaucer.
☞ The common European, or gray, partridge (
Perdix cinerea
) and the red-legged partridge (
Caccabis rubra
) of Southern Europe and Asia are well-known species.
2.
Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging to
Colinus
, and allied genera.
[U.S.]
☞ Among them are the bobwhite (
Colinus Virginianus
) of the Eastern States; the plumed, or mountain, partridge (
Oreortyx pictus
) of California; the Massena partridge (
Cyrtonyx Montezumæ
); and the California partridge (
Callipepla Californica
).
3.
The ruffed grouse (
Bonasa umbellus
).
[New Eng.]
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
Rubiaceæ
, 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 Chamæcrista
), 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
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Partridge

P`ARTRIDGE

,
Noun.
[L. perdix.] A wild fowl of the genus Tatrao. Latham arranges the partridge and quail in a genus under the name of Perdix, and assigns the grous to the genus Tetrao. The partridge is esteemed a great delicacy at the table.
The term partridge is applied in Pennsylvania to the bird called quail in New England, a peculiar species of Perdix; in New England it is applied to the ruffed grous, a species of Tetrao.

Definition 2024


partridge

partridge

English

Perdix perdix

Noun

partridge (plural partridges or partridge)

  1. Any bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae, notably in the genera Perdix and Alectoris.
  2. (obsolete, military) A type cannon charge composed of several missiles fired all together, similar to langrage or case-shot. Also a large cannon that shoots stones.

Derived terms

Translations

References

  • Oxford English Dictionary, "partridge, n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2005.