partridge

Any of various plump-bodied game birds of several genera in the family Phasianidae, native to Eurasia and Africa and introduced elsewhere.

Any of several game birds, such as the ruffed grouse or the bobwhite, similar to a partridge.

A caunon charge which consists of a number of missiles fired together; a sort of case-shot; a grenade.

A gallinaceous or rasorial bird of the family Tetraonidæ and of one or another of the subfamilies perdicinæ, Caccabinæ, and Ortyginæ, of small size as compared with grouse (Tetraoninæ), with four toes, scaly shanks seldom spurred, fairly well-developed tail, and naked nostrils

By a misapplication of the name (by English sportsmen and others in South America), species of the family Tinamidæ, as Nothura maculosa, the common partridge of the pampas of the Argentine Republic, and Rhynchotus rufescens, the great or large partridge.

In Australia, by misapplication, species of the family Tumicidæ.

In New England, by misapplication, the ruffed grouse.

In artillery, a large bombard formerly used in sieges and defensive works. Froissart. Compare perdreau.

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.

Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging to Colinus, and allied genera.