partridge
nounUK /ˈpɑːtɹɪd͡ʒ/ · US /ˈpɑɹtɹɪd͡ʒ/
Etymology From Middle English partrich, partriche, pertriche, perdriz, from Old French perdriz, partriz, from Latin perdīx (“partridge”), from Ancient Greek πέρδιξ (pérdix, “partridge”), probably from πέρδομαι (pérdomai, “to fart”).
1
Biology, Natural sciences, Ornithology Any bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae, notably in the genera Perdix and Alectoris.
- On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree.
- ...and the loudest sound in the lonely fields was when, adventuring too near some late brood, the partridge sought to deceive by a plaintive cry and seeming helplessness, crossing before your very feet, till, when drawn to a sufficient distance, suddenly the air vibrated to the flutter of her active pinions.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XI, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 80:
2
The flesh or meat of this bird eaten as food.
3
Government, Military, Politics, War Obsolete A type of cannon charge composed of several missiles fired all together, similar to langrage or case-shot. Also a large cannon that shoots stones.
- Derived terms
118 terms
African partridge, and a partridge in a pear tree, Arabian partridge, bamboo partridge, Barbary partridge, black partridge, bearded wood partridge, birch partridge, blackheaded partridge, black wood-partridge, blood partridge, Bonham's partridge, buff-breasted partridge, California partridge, capoeira partridge, chestnut-breasted partridge, chukar partridge, collared partridge, common partridge, crested partridge, crested wood partridge, crimson-headed partridge, Daurian partridge, East Asian forest partridge, English partridge, ferruginous wood partridge, French partridge, Gambel's partridge, gray partridge, grey partridge, Greek partridge, green-legged partridge, green-legged hill partridge, green wood partridge, Guiana partridge, Hainan partridge, Hey's partridge, hill partridge, Himalayan partridge, Hodgson’s partridge, Hungarian partridge, long-billed partridge, Madagascar partridge, Massena partridge, monal-partridge, mountain partridge, Namaqua partridge, night partridge, painted partridge, partridge berry, partridge-berry, partridgeberry, partridge-breast, partridge-breasted aloe, partridge breeder, partridge brood, partridge bush, partridge cane, partridge Cochin, partridge country, partridge dance, partridge dove, partridge drive, partridge-driving, partridge feather, partridge fillet, partridge hackle, partridge hawk, partridge-legged clover, partridge-like, partridgelike, partridge mew, partridge-mortar, partridge net, partridge pea, partridge pie, partridge pigeon, partridge plum, partridge poult, partridger, partridge shell, partridge shooter, partridge shooting, partridge-shot, partridge tun, partridge-vine, partridge wing, partridge-wood, partridging, Philby's partridge, plumed partridge, Przevalski's partridge, red-billed partridge, red-crowned wood partridge, red-legged partridge, redlegged partridge, Rubeho forest partridge, rock partridge, rufous throated partridge, Sabah partridge, sand partridge, sanguine partridge, scaly-breasted partridge, sea partridge, see-see partridge, Sichuan partridge, snow partridge, spruce partridge, stone partridge, swamp partridge, Tibetan partridge, tree partridge, Udzungwa forest partridge, water partridge, white-browed partridge, white-necklaced partridge, white partridge, wood partridge