par·tridge /ˈpɑrtrɪʤ, ||ˈpætrɪʤ/
 鷓鴣
 Par·tridge n.  Zool.
 1. Any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of the 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.
 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.
 2. 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 Montezumæ); and the California partridge (Callipepla Californica).
 3. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). [New Eng.]
 Bamboo partridge Zool., a spurred partridge of the genus Bambusicola.  Several species are found in China and the East Indies.
 Night partridge Zool., the woodcock. [Local, U.S.]
 Painted partridge Zool., a francolin of South Africa (Francolinus pictus).
 Partridge berry. Bot. (a) The scarlet berry of a trailing american plant (Mitchella repens) of the order Rubiaceæ, 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. (b) The fruit of the creeping wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens); also, the plant itself.
 Partridge dove Zool. Same as Mountain witch, under Mountain.
 Partridge pea Bot., a yellow-flowered leguminous herb (Cassia Chamæcrista), common in sandy fields in the Eastern United States.
 Partridge shell Zool., a large marine univalve shell (Dolium perdix), having colors variegated like those of the partridge.
 Partridge wood (a) 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. (b) 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 Zool., an Asiatic sand partridge (Ammoperdix Bonhami); -- so called from its note.
 Snow partridge Zool., 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 Zool., any small Asiatic partridge of the genus Arboricola.
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 partridge
      n 1: flesh of either quail or grouse
      2: heavy-bodied small-winged South American game bird
         resembling a gallinaceous bird but related to the ratite
         birds [syn: tinamou]
      3: small Old World gallinaceous game birds
      4: a popular North American game bird; named for its call [syn:
          bobwhite, bobwhite quail]
      5: valued as a game bird in eastern United States and Canada
         [syn: ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus]
 Partridge
    (Heb. kore, i.e., "caller"). This bird, unlike our own
    partridge, is distinguished by "its ringing call-note, which in
    early morning echoes from cliff to cliff amidst the barrenness
    of the wilderness of Judea and the glens of the forest of
    Carmel" hence its Hebrew name. This name occurs only twice in
    Scripture.
      In 1 Sam. 26:20 "David alludes to the mode of chase practised
    now, as of old, when the partridge, continuously chased, was at
    length, when fatigued, knocked down by sticks thrown along the
    ground." It endeavours to save itself "by running, in preference
    to flight, unless when suddenly started. It is not an inhabitant
    of the plain or the corn-field, but of rocky hill-sides"
    (Tristram's Nat. Hist.).
      In Jer. 17:11 the prophet is illustrating the fact that riches
    unlawfully acquired are precarious and short-lived. The exact
    nature of the illustration cannot be precisely determined. Some
    interpret the words as meaning that the covetous man will be as
    surely disappointed as the partridge which gathers in eggs, not
    of her own laying, and is unable to hatch them; others
    (Tristram), with more probability, as denoting that the man who
    enriches himself by unjust means "will as surely be disappointed
    as the partridge which commences to sit, but is speedily robbed
    of her hopes of a brood" by her eggs being stolen away from her.
      The commonest partridge in Palestine is the Caccabis
    saxatilis, the Greek partridge. The partridge of the wilderness
    (Ammo-perdix heyi) is a smaller species. Both are essentially
    mountain and rock birds, thus differing from the English
    partridge, which loves cultivated fields.