Partridge word meaning and definition

[noun] valued as a game bird in eastern United States and Canada
[noun] a popular North American game bird; named for its call
[noun] small Old World gallinaceous game birds
[noun] heavy-bodied small-winged South American game bird resembling a gallinaceous bird but related to the ratite birds
[noun] (US usage) flesh of either quail or grouse

\Par"tridge\, n. [OE. partriche, pertriche, OF. pertris, perdriz, F. perdrix, L. perdix, -icis, fr. Gr. ?.] (Zo["o]l.) 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. 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 Montezum[ae]}); and the California partridge ({Callipepla Californica}). 3. The ruffed grouse ({Bonasa umbellus}). [New Eng.] {Bamboo partridge} (Zo["o]l.), a spurred partridge of the genus {Bambusicola}. Several species are found in China and the East Indies. {Night partridge} (Zo["o]l.), the woodcock. [Local, U.S.] {Painted partridge} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.) 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), an Asiatic sand partridge ({Ammoperdix Bonhami}); -- so called from its note. {Snow partridge} (Zo["o]l.), a large spurred partridge ({Lerwa nivicola}) which inhabits the high mountains of Asia. {Spruce partridge}. See under {Spruce}. {Wood partridge}, or {Hill partridge} (Zo["o]l.), any small Asiatic partridge of the genus {Arboricola}.

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