partridge

Etymology

From Middle English partrich, partriche, pertriche, perdriz, from Old French perdriz, partriz, from Latin perdīx (“partridge”), from Ancient Greek πέρδιξ (pérdix, “partridge”), probably from πέρδομαι (pérdomai, “to fart”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑːtɹɪd͡ʒ/
• (US) enPR: pärʹtrĭj, IPA^(key): /ˈpɑɹtɹɪd͡ʒ/

Noun

partridge (plural partridges or partridge)

1. Any bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae, notably in the genera Perdix and Alectoris.

   On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree.

2. (obsolete, military) A type cannon charge composed of several missiles fired all together, similar to langrage or case-shot. Also a large cannon that shoots stones.

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, "partridge, n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2005.