From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Partridge \Par"tridge\ (p[aum]r"tr[i^]j), n. [OE. partriche,
pertriche, OF. pertris, perdriz, F. perdrix, L. perdix,
-icis, fr. Gr. pe`rdix.] (Zool.)
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.
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Full many a fat partrich had he in mew. --Chaucer.
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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.
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2. Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging
to {Colinus}, and allied genera. [U.S.]
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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}).
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3. The ruffed grouse ({Bonasa umbellus}). [New Eng.]
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{Bamboo partridge} (Zool.), a spurred partridge of the genus
{Bambusicola}. Several species are found in China and the
East Indies.
{Night partridge} (Zool.), the woodcock. [Local, U.S.]
{Painted partridge} (Zool.), 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} (Zool.) 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} (Zool.), 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} (Zool.), an Asiatic sand partridge
({Ammoperdix Bonhami}); -- so called from its note.
{Snow partridge} (Zool.), a large spurred partridge ({Lerwa
nivicola}) which inhabits the high mountains of Asia;
called also {jermoonal}.
{Spruce partridge}. See under {Spruce}.
{Wood partridge}, or {Hill partridge} (Zool.), any small
Asiatic partridge of the genus {Arboricola}.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Ruffed \Ruffed\, a.
Furnished with a ruff.
[1913 Webster]
{Ruffed grouse} (Zool.), 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} (Zool.), 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}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
partridge
n 1: 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}, {partridge}]
3: small Old World gallinaceous game birds
4: a popular North American game bird; named for its call [syn:
{bobwhite}, {bobwhite quail}, {partridge}]
5: valued as a game bird in eastern United States and Canada
[syn: {ruffed grouse}, {partridge}, {Bonasa umbellus}]
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