Partridge

Partridge
/pahr"trij/, n.
Eric (Honeywood) /hun"ee wood'/, 1894-1979, British lexicographer, born in New Zealand.

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Any of certain species of Old World game bird in the family Phasianidae.

The European gray partridge (Perdix perdix), introduced into North America, has a reddish face and tail, gray breast, barred sides, and a dark U shape on the belly. Males may be 12 in. (30 cm) long. The hen lays about 15 eggs in a grassy cup in grainfields or hedges. Family groups (coveys) forage for seeds and insects. The five Asian and 35 African species of francolins (genus Francolinus) have leg spurs and are 10–16 in. (25–40 cm) long. The snow partridge (Lerwa lerwa) inhabits high Asian mountains. Partridges are larger than quail and have a stronger bill and feet. Grouse and bobwhites are often erroneously called partridge.

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bird
      any of many small game birds native to the Old World and belonging to the family Phasianidae (order Galliformes). They are larger than quails, with stronger bills and feet. (For New World birds erroneously called partridges, see grouse; quail. For dwarf partridges of India called bush quail and for the Mexican bird called long-tailed partridge, see quail.)

      The typical partridge of Europe is the gray partridge (Perdix perdix), called Hungarian (or hun) partridge in North America, where it was introduced in 1889 (Virginia) and again, much more successfully, in 1908–09 (Alberta). It ranges throughout the British Isles and across Europe to the Caspian region. The gray partridge has a reddish face and tail, gray breast, barred sides, and a dark U shape on the belly; sexes look alike. The hen lays about 15 eggs in a grassy cup in grainfields or hedges. A large male is 30 cm (12 inches) long and may weigh 0.33 kg (0.75 pound). Gray partridges prefer farmlands, where family groups (coveys) forage for seeds and insects.

      In the rock partridges (Alectoris), both sexes have red legs and bill, and the male has blunt leg spurs. The chukar (A. chukar), stocked in many countries, is native from southeastern Europe to India and Manchuria (Northeast Provinces). It has a brown back with strongly barred sides and a black-outlined whitish throat. The crested wood partridge, or roulroul (Rollulus roulroul), of Malaysia has an iridescent blue-green body, red feet and eye region, and crimson crest.

      Francolins (francolin) are partridges with leg spurs. The 5 Asian and about 35 African species of Francolinus are prized game birds, 25–40 cm long, with big bills and strong legs; most are an intricately patterned brown, but some are patterned in black, white, or red.

      The snow partridge (Lerwa lerwa) of high mountains of south-central Asia resembles a ptarmigan in appearance and habits.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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.) 1. Any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of the genus {Perdix} and several related… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Partridge — steht für: Die Partridge Familie, US amerikanische Sitcom aus den 1970er Jahren Partridge (Kansas), eine Ortschaft in den Vereinigten Staaten Partridge ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Alex Partridge (* 1981), britischer Ruderer Andy… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • PARTRIDGE — (Heb. חָגְלָה, ḥoglah), bird. Two species of the partridge are found in Israel, the see see partridge (Ammoperdix heyi) and the chukar partridge (Alectoris graeca). The latter is called ḥajel in Arabic, which is the ḥoglah mentioned as the name… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Partridge — Partridge, KS U.S. city in Kansas Population (2000): 259 Housing Units (2000): 106 Land area (2000): 0.465275 sq. miles (1.205057 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.465275 sq. miles (1.205057 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Partridge, KS — U.S. city in Kansas Population (2000): 259 Housing Units (2000): 106 Land area (2000): 0.465275 sq. miles (1.205057 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.465275 sq. miles (1.205057 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • partridge — [pär′trij] n. pl. partridges or partridge [ME partriche < OFr perdriz, earlier perdiz < L perdix < Gr, prob. akin to perdesthai, to break wind (< IE base * perd > FART): from whirring sound made by wings on rising to fly] 1. any of …   English World dictionary

  • partridge — (n.) late 12c., from O.Fr. pertis, alteration of perdis (perhaps influenced by fem. suffix tris), from L. perdicem (nom. perdix), from Gk. perdix, the Greek partridge, probably related to perdesthai to break wind, in reference to the whirring… …   Etymology dictionary

  • partridge — ► NOUN (pl. same or partridges) ▪ a short tailed game bird with mainly brown plumage. ORIGIN Old French perdriz, from Latin perdix …   English terms dictionary

  • Partridge — [pär′trij] Eric (Honeywood) 1894 1979; Brit. lexicographer, born in New Zealand …   English World dictionary

  • Partridge — Taxobox name = Partridges image width = 250px image caption = Chukar Partridge regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Galliformes familia = Phasianidae subdivision ranks = Genera subdivision = * Perdix * Alectoris * Lerwa *… …   Wikipedia

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