Pheas·ant n.
1. Zool. Any one of numerous species of large gallinaceous birds of the genus Phasianus, and many other genera of the family Phasianidæ, found chiefly in Asia.
Note: ☞ The common pheasant, or English pheasant (Phasianus Colchicus) is now found over most of temperate Europe, but was introduced from Asia. The ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus torquatus) and the green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor) have been introduced into Oregon. The golden pheasant (Thaumalea picta) is one of the most beautiful species. The silver pheasant (Euplocamus nychthemerus) of China, and several related species from Southern Asia, are very beautiful.
2. Zool. The ruffed grouse. [Southern U.S.]
Note: ☞ Various other birds are locally called pheasants, as the lyre bird, the leipoa, etc.
Fireback pheasant. See Fireback.
Gold pheasant, or Golden pheasant Zool., a Chinese pheasant (Thaumalea picta), having rich, varied colors. The crest is amber-colored, the rump is golden yellow, and the under parts are scarlet.
Mountain pheasant Zool., the ruffed grouse. [Local, U.S.]
Pheasant coucal Zool., a large Australian cuckoo (Centropus phasianus). The general color is black, with chestnut wings and brown tail. Called also pheasant cuckoo. The name is also applied to other allied species.
Pheasant duck. Zool. (a) The pintail. (b) The hooded merganser.
Pheasant parrot Zool., a large and beautiful Australian parrakeet (Platycercus Adelaidensis). The male has the back black, the feathers margined with yellowish blue and scarlet, the quills deep blue, the wing coverts and cheeks light blue, the crown, sides of the neck, breast, and middle of the belly scarlet.
Pheasant's eye. Bot. (a) A red-flowered herb (Adonis autumnalis) of the Crowfoot family; -- called also pheasant's-eye Adonis. (b) The garden pink (Dianthus plumarius); -- called also Pheasant's-eye pink.
Pheasant shell Zool., any marine univalve shell of the genus Phasianella, of which numerous species are found in tropical seas. The shell is smooth and usually richly colored, the colors often forming blotches like those of a pheasant.
Pheasant wood. Bot. Same as Partridge wood (a), under Partridge.
Sea pheasant Zool., the pintail.
Water pheasant. Zool. (a) The sheldrake. (b) The hooded merganser.
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Sil·ver, a.
1. Of or pertaining to silver; made of silver; as, silver leaf; a silver cup.
2. Resembling silver. Specifically: (a) Bright; resplendent; white. “Silver hair.”
Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed
Their downy breast. --Milton.
(b) Precious; costly. (c) Giving a clear, ringing sound soft and clear. “Silver voices.” --Spenser. (d) Sweet; gentle; peaceful. “Silver slumber.” --Spenser.
American silver fir Bot., the balsam fir. See under Balsam.
Silver age Roman Lit., the latter part (a. d. 14-180) of the classical period of Latinity, -- the time of writers of inferior purity of language, as compared with those of the previous golden age, so-called.
Silver-bell tree Bot., an American shrub or small tree (Halesia tetraptera) with white bell-shaped flowers in clusters or racemes; the snowdrop tree.
Silver bush Bot., a shrubby leguminous plant (Anthyllis Barba-Jovis) of Southern Europe, having silvery foliage.
Silver chub Zool., the fallfish.
Silver eel. Zool. (a) The cutlass fish. (b) A pale variety of the common eel.
Silver fir Bot., a coniferous tree (Abies pectinata) found in mountainous districts in the middle and south of Europe, where it often grows to the height of 100 or 150 feet. It yields Burgundy pitch and Strasburg turpentine.
Silver foil, foil made of silver.
Silver fox Zool., a variety of the common fox (Vulpes vulpes, variety argenteus) found in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. Its fur is nearly black, with silvery tips, and is highly valued. Called also black fox, and silver-gray fox.
Silver gar. Zool. See Billfish (a).
Silver grain Bot., the lines or narrow plates of cellular tissue which pass from the pith to the bark of an exogenous stem; the medullary rays. In the wood of the oak they are much larger than in that of the beech, maple, pine, cherry, etc.
Silver grebe Zool., the red-throated diver. See Illust. under Diver.
Silver hake Zool., the American whiting.
Silver leaf, leaves or sheets made of silver beaten very thin.
Silver lunge Zool., the namaycush.
Silver moonfish.Zool. See Moonfish (b).
Silver moth Zool., a lepisma.
Silver owl Zool., the barn owl.
Silver perch Zool., the mademoiselle, 2.
Silver pheasant Zool., any one of several species of beautiful crested and long-tailed Asiatic pheasants, of the genus Euplocamus. They have the tail and more or less of the upper parts silvery white. The most common species (Euplocamus nychtemerus) is native of China.
Silver plate, (a) domestic utensils made of a base metal coated with silver. (b) a plating of silver on a base metal.
Silver plover Zool., the knot.
Silver salmon Zool., a salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) native of both coasts of the North Pacific. It ascends all the American rivers as far south as the Sacramento. Called also kisutch, whitefish, and white salmon.
Silver shell Zool., a marine bivalve of the genus Anomia. See Anomia.
Silver steel, an alloy of steel with a very small proportion of silver.
Silver stick, a title given to the title field officer of the Life Guards when on duty at the palace. [Eng.] --Thackeray.
Silver tree Bot., a South African tree (Leucadendron argenteum) with long, silvery, silky leaves.
Silver trout, Zool. See Trout.
Silver wedding. See under Wedding.
Silver whiting Zool., a marine sciaenoid food fish (Menticirrus littoralis) native of the Southern United States; -- called also surf whiting.
Silver witch Zool., A lepisma.