The Collaborative International Dictionary
Partridge \Par"tridge\ (p[aum]r"tr[i^]j), n. [OE. partriche, pertriche, OF. pertris, perdriz, F. perdrix, L. perdix, -icis, fr. Gr. pe`rdix.] (Zo["o]l.)
-
Any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of the genus Perdix and several related genera of the family Perdicid[ae], of the Old World. The partridge is noted as a game bird.
Full many a fat partrich had he in mew.
--Chaucer.Note: The common European, or gray, partridge ( Perdix cinerea) and the red-legged partridge ( Caccabis rubra) of Southern Europe and Asia are well-known species.
-
Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging to Colinus, and allied genera. [U.S.]
Note: Among them are the bobwhite ( Colinus Virginianus) of the Eastern States; the plumed, or mountain, partridge ( Oreortyx pictus) of California; the Massena partridge ( Cyrtonyx Montezum[ae]); and the California partridge ( Callipepla Californica).
-
The ruffed grouse ( Bonasa umbellus). [New Eng.] Bamboo partridge (Zo["o]l.), a spurred partridge of the genus Bambusicola. Several species are found in China and the East Indies. Night partridge (Zo["o]l.), the woodcock. [Local, U.S.] Painted partridge (Zo["o]l.), a francolin of South Africa ( Francolinus pictus). Partridge berry. (Bot.)
The scarlet berry of a trailing american plant ( Mitchella repens) of the order Rubiace[ae], having roundish evergreen leaves, and white fragrant flowers sometimes tinged with purple, growing in pairs with the ovaries united, and producing the berries which remain over winter; also, the plant itself.
-
The fruit of the creeping wintergreen ( Gaultheria procumbens); also, the plant itself. Partridge dove (Zo["o]l.) Same as Mountain witch, under Mountain. Partridge pea (Bot.), a yellow-flowered leguminous herb ( Cassia Cham[ae]crista), common in sandy fields in the Eastern United States. Partridge shell (Zo["o]l.), a large marine univalve shell ( Dolium perdix), having colors variegated like those of the partridge. Partridge wood
A variegated wood, much esteemed for cabinetwork. It is obtained from tropical America, and one source of it is said to be the leguminous tree Andira inermis. Called also pheasant wood.
-
A name sometimes given to the dark-colored and striated wood of some kind of palm, which is used for walking sticks and umbrella handles.
Sea partridge (Zo["o]l.), an Asiatic sand partridge ( Ammoperdix Bonhami); -- so called from its note.
Snow partridge (Zo["o]l.), a large spurred partridge ( Lerwa nivicola) which inhabits the high mountains of Asia; called also jermoonal.
Spruce partridge. See under Spruce.
Wood partridge, or Hill partridge (Zo["o]l.), any small Asiatic partridge of the genus Arboricola.
Wiktionary
n. (taxlink Chamaecrista fasciculata species noshow=1), an annual legume with yellow flowers, native to most of the eastern United States.
WordNet
n. tropical American plant having leaflets somewhat sensitive to the touch; sometimes placed in genus Cassia [syn: sensitive pea, wild sensitive plant, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Cassia fasciculata]