partridge
1 Americannoun
plural
partridges,plural
partridge-
any of several Old World gallinaceous game birds of the subfamily Perdicinae, especially Perdix perdix.
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Chiefly Northern U.S. the ruffed grouse.
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Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. bobwhite.
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any of several other North American gallinaceous game birds.
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any of various South and Central American tinamous.
noun
noun
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any of various small Old World gallinaceous game birds of the genera Perdix, Alectoris, etc, esp P. perdix ( common or European partridge ): family Phasianidae (pheasants)
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any of various other gallinaceous birds, esp the bobwhite and ruffed grouse
noun
Other Word Forms
- partridgelike adjective
Etymology
Origin of partridge
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English partrich, variant of pertrich, from Middle French pertris, variant of perdris, Old French perd(r)iz, from Latin perdix, from Greek pérdix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“My lady ate too much cake while she was away, I think! Look at her, growing plump as a partridge,” she said approvingly.
From Literature
Schwarzman, who usually arrives by helicopter, also bought the farm next door to host pheasant and partridge shoots.
After six seasons, five Christmas specials, three movies and a partridge in a pear tree, this is the end, until the next time writer and creator Julian Fellowes is struck with inspiration.
From Los Angeles Times
The organisation said that was because gamekeepers are trying to protect their grouse, pheasants and partridge - and the profits they bring.
From BBC
Since Isaac often went with Jefferson when he hunted squirrels and partridge, or visited him in Monticello’s library and workrooms, he saw glimpses of Jefferson as the gentleman farmer and tinkerer.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
