pheasant

American  

[fez-uhnt] / ˈfɛz ənt /

noun

1. any of numerous large, usually long-tailed, Old World gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, widely introduced.

2. any of various other birds that resemble or suggest a pheasant.

3. Southern U.S. the ruffed grouse.

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pheasant British  

/ ˈfɛzənt /

noun

1. any of various long-tailed gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, esp Phasianus colchicus ( ring-necked pheasant ), having a brightly-coloured plumage in the male: native to Asia but introduced elsewhere

2. any of various other gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, including the quails and partridges

3. any of several other gallinaceous birds, esp the ruffed grouse

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Etymology

Origin of pheasant

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English fesaunt, from Anglo-French; Old French fesan, from Latin phāsiānus, from Greek phāsiānós (órnis) “(bird) of the Phasis,” a river in the Caucasus

Example Sentences

There are hunters in the woods and they heard us move and they’ve mistaken us for deer or pheasant.

From Literature

“American pheasants?” asked Arnold Myerson, who as I mentioned was nearly deaf.

From Literature

In theory she is dressed for pheasant shooting on the hills of the castle estate but in practice it is all in the name of fashion.

From BBC

“I can use the pheasant feathers off that hat to dress up an old bonnet of mine,” she told me.

From Literature

A flock of furious pheasants was blocking the tracks and stubbornly refused to move.

From Literature

Related Words

• chicken
• duck
• fowl
• geese
• pigeon