browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
partridge |
5 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Ruffed \Ruffed\, a. Furnished with a ruff. {Ruffed grouse} (Zo["o]l.), a North American grouse ({Bonasa umbellus}) common in the wooded districts of the Northern United States. The male has a ruff of brown or black feathers on each side of the neck, and is noted for the loud drumming sound he makes during the breeding season. Called also {tippet grouse}, {partridge}, {birch partridge}, {pheasant}, {drummer}, and {white-flesher}. {ruffed lemur} (Zo["o]l.), a species of lemur ({lemur varius}) having a conspicuous ruff on the sides of the head. Its color is varied with black and white. Called also {ruffed maucaco}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Partridge \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}. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: partridge n 1: (US usage) flesh of either quail or grouse 2: heavy-bodied small-winged South American game bird resembling a gallinaceous bird but related to the ratite birds [syn: {tinamou}] 3: small Old World gallinaceous game birds 4: a popular North American game bird; named for its call [syn: {bobwhite}, {bobwhite quail}] 5: valued as a game bird in eastern United States and Canada [syn: {ruffed grouse}, {Bonasa umbellus}] From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: Partridge, KS (city, FIPS 54700) Location: 37.96736 N, 98.09387 W Population (1990): 213 (102 housing units) Area: 1.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 67566 Partridge, KY Zip code(s): 40862 From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Partridge (Heb. kore, i.e., "caller"). This bird, unlike our own partridge, is distinguished by "its ringing call-note, which in early morning echoes from cliff to cliff amidst the barrenness of the wilderness of Judea and the glens of the forest of Carmel" hence its Hebrew name This name occurs only twice in Scripture. In 1 Sam. 26:20 "David alludes to the mode of chase practised now as of old when the partridge, continuously chased, was at length, when fatigued, knocked down by sticks thrown along the ground." It endeavours to save itself "by running, in preference to flight, unless when suddenly started. It is not an inhabitant of the plain or the corn-field, but of rocky hill-sides" (Tristram's Nat. Hist.). In Jer. 17:11 the prophet is illustrating the fact that riches unlawfully acquired are precarious and short-lived. The exact nature of the illustration cannot be precisely determined. Some interpret the words as meaning that the covetous man will be as surely disappointed as the partridge which gathers in eggs, not of her own laying, and is unable to hatch them others (Tristram), with more probability, as denoting that the man who enriches himself by unjust means "will as surely be disappointed as the partridge which commences to sit but is speedily robbed of her hopes of a brood" by her eggs being stolen away from her The commonest partridge in Palestine is the Caccabis saxatilis, the Greek partridge. The partridge of the wilderness (Ammo-perdix heyi) is a smaller species. Both are essentially mountain and rock birds, thus differing from the English partridge, which loves cultivated fields.
more about partridge
This work is licensed under a
