partridge

Definition

Any bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae, notably in the genera Perdix and Alectoris.

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”).

Example Sentences

• "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."