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Synonyms

partridge

1 American  
[pahr-trij] / ˈpɑr trɪdʒ /

noun

plural

partridges,

plural

partridge

  1. any of several Old World gallinaceous game birds of the subfamily Perdicinae, especially Perdix perdix.

  2. Chiefly Northern U.S. the ruffed grouse.

  3. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. bobwhite.

  4. any of several other North American gallinaceous game birds.

  5. any of various South and Central American tinamous.

Partridge 2 American  
[pahr-trij] / ˈpɑr trɪdʒ /

noun

  1. Eric (Honeywood) 1894–1979, British lexicographer, born in New Zealand.

partridge 1 British  
/ ˈpɑːtrɪdʒ /

noun

  1. 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)

  2. any of various other gallinaceous birds, esp the bobwhite and ruffed grouse

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Partridge 2 British  
/ ˈpɑːtrɪdʒ /

noun

  1. Eric ( Honeywood ). 1894–1979, British lexicographer, born in New Zealand; author of works on English usage, idiom, slang, and etymology

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

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

"Unfortunately we do not have that in the rest of the UK. We need to see wider licensing particularly for grouse moors in England and pheasant and partridge shooting in the lowlands of the UK."

From BBC • Oct. 22, 2024

While many cultures and individuals still preferred slender women and muscular men, others idealized being "plump as a partridge" as indicative of both health and wealth.

From Salon • Dec. 27, 2022

She was in it—the plump partridge who had always been helpless.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

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.