Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Any of several plump-bodied Old World game birds, especially of the genera Perdix and Alectoris, related to the pheasants and grouse.
- n. Any of several birds, such as the ruffed grouse or the bobwhite, similar or related to the partridge.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A gallinaceous or rasorial bird of the family Tetraonidæ and of one or another of the subfamilies perdicinæ, Caccabinæ, and Ortyginæ, of small size as compared with grouse (Tetraoninæ), with four toes, scaly shanks seldom spurred, fairly well-developed tail, and naked nostrils The birds more particularly designated partridges are the European species of the genera Perdix and Caccabis. The best-known of these is the common gray partridge, Perdix cinerea, the only bird of the kind that is common in Great Britain, and hence the one specifically called a partridge in English. It extends through Europe, and in Asia is replaced by closely related forms, as P. barbata and P. hodgsoniæ. Other Asiatic birds which have partridge as at least the bookname are species of Oreoperdix, Ammoperdix, Arborophila, Bambusicola, etc. Those of the last-named genus are known as bamboo-partridges.
- n. By a misapplication of the name (by English sportsmen and others in South America), species of the family Tinamidæ, as Nothura maculosa, the common partridge of the pampas of the Argentine Republic, and Rhynchotus rufescens, the great or large partridge.
- n. In Australia, by misapplication, species of the family Tumicidæ.
- n. In New England, by misapplication, the ruffed grouse.
- n. In artillery, a large bombard formerly used in sieges and defensive works. Froissart. Compare perdreau.
- n. A caunon charge which consists of a number of missiles fired together; a sort of case-shot; a grenade.
Wiktionary
- n. Any bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae, notably in the genera Perdix and Alectoris.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. 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. - n. Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging to Colinus, and allied genera.
- n. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus).
WordNet 3.0
- n. heavy-bodied small-winged South American game bird resembling a gallinaceous bird but related to the ratite birds
- n. a popular North American game bird; named for its call
- n. valued as a game bird in eastern United States and Canada
- n. flesh of either quail or grouse
- n. small Old World gallinaceous game birds
Etymologies
- Middle English partrich, from Old French perdriz, alteration of perdis, from Latin perdīx, from Greek; see perd- in Indo-European roots.
Examples
“The wild Turkeys, the wild pigeon, a bird which they call a partridge, but above all the rice-bird, which is the Ortalon in its highest perfection, and from the water the finest ducks that possibly can be met with, and so plenty that when on wing sixteen or eighteen are killed at a shot.”
“The red-legged, or Guernsey, partridge is very superior for the table to the common kind.”
The Lady's Country Companion: or, How to Enjoy a Country Life Rationally
“PAUL KARCZMARCYK, RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY, NEW ENGLAND: The name partridge actually comes from a European species.”
“In this journey, we found plenty of good mutton, pork, poultry, and game, including the red partridge, which is near twice as big as the partridge of”
“Two species of Tinamus and Eudromia elegans of A. d'Orbigny, which can only be called a partridge with regard to its habits.”
“The ruffed grouse (commonly called partridge) feeds on the buds of trees in winter; its legs and feet are thickly covered with feathers in winter but are bare in summer.”
“The discussion would involve the winter habits of some of the more common birds, as, for example, the ruffed grouse (commonly though incorrectly called the partridge).”
“This we may readily give credit to, from the known fact of our little kestrel and the sparrow-hawk frequently flying off with a partridge, which is nearly three times the weight of these rapacious little birds. ”
“Two species of Tinamus, and Eudromia elegans of A. dOrbigny, which can only be called a partridge with regard to its habits.”
“England or wherever the ruffed grouse is known as partridge, is called partridge in the Middle and Southern states, where the ruffed grouse is known as pheasant.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘partridge’.
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Meats: For All the Carnivores out There
Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!
Just kidding. Kind of.yak, wood pigeon, wild turkey, wild boar, venison, veal, turtle, turkey, squirrel, squab, snail, rattlesnake and 51 more...
bilby ...in a pear tree Jan 10, 2010
bilby Y vivieron felices y comieron Katrinas. Much better. Nov 16, 2009
madmouth Sounds like a fine fate Nov 16, 2009
sionnach One of the standard endings to Spanish fairy tales is "Y vivieron felices y comieron perdices" (they lived happily and ate partridges). See, e.g. perdices Nov 16, 2009
madmouth Of 'that little coquette Katrina':
"She was a blooming lass of fresh eighteen; plump as a patridge; ripe and melting and rosy-cheeked as one of her father's peaches"
-Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
I'm intrigued by the 'one ass, two chairs' approach to metaphors of objectification here. A patridge--ie. game--AND a neatly domesticated fruit! Nov 15, 2009