PARTRIDGE
bobwhite, bobwhite quail, partridge
(noun) a popular North American game bird; named for its call
partridge
(noun) small Old World gallinaceous game birds
tinamou, partridge
(noun) heavy-bodied small-winged South American game bird resembling a gallinaceous bird but related to the ratite birds
partridge
(noun) flesh of either quail or grouse
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
partridge (plural partridges or partridge)
(ornithology) Any bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae, notably in the genera Perdix and Alectoris.
(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.
Proper noun
Partridge
A surname.
Mrs Partridge, upon this, immediately fell into a fury, and discharged the trencher on which she was eating, at the head of poor Jenny […]
Source: Wiktionary
Par"tridge, n. Etym: [OE. partriche, pertriche, OF. pertris, perdriz,
F. perdrix, L. perdix, -icis, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
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.
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.
2. Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging to
Colinus, and allied genera. [U.S.]
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 Montezumæ); and the
California partridge (Callipepla Californica).
3. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). [New Eng.] Bamboo partridge
(Zoöl.), a spurred partridge of the genus Bambusicola. Several
species are found in China and the East Indies.
– Night partridge (Zoöl.), the woodcock. [Local, U.S.] -- Painted
partridge (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.) 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), an Asiatic sand partridge (Ammoperdix
Bonhami); -- so called from its note.
– Snow partridge (Zoöl.), a large spurred partridge (Lerwa
nivicola) which inhabits the high mountains of Asia.
– Spruce partridge. See under Spruce.
– Wood partridge, or Hill partridge (Zoöl.), any small Asiatic
partridge of the genus Arboricola.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition