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he genus Perdix and several related genera of the family Perdicidæ, of the Old World. The partridge is noted as a game bird. Full many a fat partrich had he in mew. Chaucer.

The gilthead (Crenilabrus melops), a fish of the British coasts.

The ruddy duck. [Local, U. S.]

Any of several small partridges of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and neighboring regions belonging to the genera Caloperdix, Rollulus, and Melanoperdix.

bark canoe. Birch of Jamaica, a species (Bursera gummifera) of turpentine tree. -- Birch partridge. (Zoöl.) See Ruffed grouse. -- Birch wine, wine made of the spring sap of the birch. -- Oil of birch. (a) An oil obtained from the bark of the common European birch (Betula alba), and used in the preparation of genuine…

right red berry; the wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Also incorrectly applied to the partridge berry (Mitchella repens).

h as that made by some insects, as the cockchafer, or by some birds, as the nightjar, the partridge, etc.

young; hence, a small flock or number of birds together; -- said of game; as, a covey of partridges. Darwin.

the same species, as when a plant has two kinds of flowers, both hermaphrodite (as in the partridge berry), or when there are two forms of one or both sexes of the same species of butterfly. Dimorphism is the condition of the appearance of the same species under two dissimilar forms. Darwin.

A genus of large univalve mollusks, including the partridge shell and tun shells.

hole quantity of game taken. -- Game bird, any bird commonly shot for food, esp. grouse, partridges, quails, pheasants, wild turkeys, and the shore or wading birds, such as plovers, snipe, woodcock, curlew, and sandpipers. The term is sometimes arbitrarily restricted to birds hunted by sportsmen, with dogs and guns.…

The Crenilabrus melops, of the British coasts; -- called also golden maid, conner, sea partridge.

artificial heat; to produce young from (eggs); as, the young when hatched. Paley. As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not. Jer. xvii. 11. For the hens do not sit upon the eggs; but by keeping them in a certain equal heat they [the husbandmen] bring life into them and hatch them. Robynson (More's Utopia…

They are easily taught to speak many words. [Written also hill mynah.] See Myna. -- Hill partridge (Zoöl.), a partridge of the genus Aborophila, of which numerous species in habit Southern Asia and the East Indies. -- Hill tit (Zoöl.), one of numerous species of small Asiatic singing birds of the family Leiotrichidæ.…

To assail with contemptuous cries or shouts; to follow with derisive shouts. Partridge and his clan may hoot me for a cheat. Swift.

The Himalayan now partridge.

To nestle or collect together in a covey; -- said of quails and partridges.

, and a terminal cluster of large, pinnate leaves. -- Mountain quail (Zoöl.), the plumed partridge (Oreortyx pictus) of California. It has two long, slender, plumelike feathers on the head. The throat and sides are chestnut; the belly is brown with transverse bars of black and white; the neck and breast are dark gray.…

Of or pertaining to the family Perdicidæ, or partridges.

A genus of birds including the common European partridge. Formerly the word was used in a much wider sense to include many allied genera.