partridge
noun
any of several Old World gallinaceous game birds of the subfamily Perdicinae, especially Perdix perdix.
partridge
1 American
[pahr-trij]
/ ˈpɑr trɪdʒ /
noun
-
partridges,
plural
-
partridge
plural
-
any of several Old World gallinaceous game birds of the subfamily Perdicinae, especially Perdix perdix.
-
Chiefly Northern U.S. the ruffed grouse.
-
Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. bobwhite.
-
any of several other North American gallinaceous game birds.
-
any of various South and Central American tinamous.
Partridge
2
American
[pahr-trij]
/ ˈpɑr trɪdʒ /
noun
partridge
1
British
/ ˈpɑːtrɪdʒ /
noun
-
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)
-
any of various other gallinaceous birds, esp the bobwhite and ruffed grouse
Partridge
2
British
/ ˈpɑːtrɪdʒ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Explanation
A partridge is a wild brown bird. What is that partridge doing in a pear tree in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas"? Who knows, since most partridges live on the ground and hardly ever climb trees. Partridges are popular with European hunters, but there are very few partridges in North America, although some have been introduced as game birds. The word partridge comes from the Greek perdix and can ultimately be traced back to a Sanskrit word that mimics the whirring sound of a bird's wings.
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.
See Examples For:
Schwarzman, who usually arrives by helicopter, also bought the farm next door to host pheasant and partridge shoots.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2025
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 ● Sep. 12, 2025
On the first day of Christmas, it will set shoppers back $280.18 to buy a partridge in a pear tree for their true love — a 25.8% increase from last year.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 23, 2022
The pop-star-turned-vicar's winning menu featured a roast partridge with caramelised pear, cabbage, celeriac, chestnut and lardons with bread sauce, pear gravy and five gold ring potatoes.
From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2021
She was in it—the plump partridge who had always been helpless.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Brown laughs as she jumps in, turning to Partridge with the kind of mock-seriousness that suggests this is a familiar routine between them.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
It is rare to meet two co-stars whose chemistry is obvious before the interview has even begun but before I ask Millie Bobby Brown and Louis Partridge a single question, they are already laughing together.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
“You can annoy them as much as you want,” said Partridge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
A growing number of self-identified pastors such as Dale Partridge, Joel Webbon, and Martin Sedra have borrowed influencer-style tactics to draw in viewers.
From Salon ● May 4, 2026
We stepped out on the porch just as Mrs. Partridge placed a white envelope on the steps.
From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech
From the passenger seat, I often spotted rabbits fleeing down dirt roads and scampering under bushes, many joined by red-legged partridges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026
Weeks later, the disease was again confirmed at a commercial gamebird premises near Wrexham, containing more than 20,000 pheasants and partridges.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2025
The royal family’s 20,000-acre country estate in Norfolk, where Queen Elizabeth II enjoyed spending Christmas and shooting partridges.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2023
They’re not turtle doves or partridges in a pear tree, but they’re family.
From New York Times ● Dec. 23, 2022
The only alarm came when they startled four partridges, which whirred away over the hedge to the west and sailed down, spread-winged, into the field beyond.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
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.
