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.] (Zool.)
   1. Any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of
      the genus Perdix and several related genera of the
      family Perdicid[ae], of the Old World. The partridge is
      noted as a game bird.
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            Full many a fat partrich had he in mew. --Chaucer.
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   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.
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   2. Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging
      to Colinus, and allied genera. [U.S.]
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   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 Montezum[ae]); and the California
         partridge (Callipepla Californica).
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   3. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). [New Eng.]
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   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 Rubiace[ae],
          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 Cham[ae]crista), 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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Plume \Plume\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Pluming.] [Cf. F. plumer to pluck, to strip, L. plumare to
   cover with feathers.]
   1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or
      prink.
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            Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers. --W.
                                                  Irving.
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   2. To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage;
      also, to peel. [Obs.] --Bacon. Dryden.
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   3. To adorn with feathers or plumes. "Farewell the plumed
      troop." --Shak.
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   4. To pride; to vaunt; to boast; -- used reflexively; as, he
      plumes himself on his skill. --South.
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   Plumed adder (Zool.), an African viper (Vipera cornuta,
      syn. Clotho cornuta), having a plumelike structure over
      each eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African
      puff adder. Called also horned viper and hornsman.

   Plumed partridge (Zool.), the California mountain quail
      (Oreortyx pictus). See Mountain quail, under
      Mountain.
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Mountain \Moun"tain\ (moun"t[i^]n), a.
   1. Of or pertaining to a mountain or mountains; growing or
      living on a mountain; found on or peculiar to mountains;
      among mountains; as, a mountain torrent; mountain pines;
      mountain goats; mountain air; mountain howitzer.
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   2. Like a mountain; mountainous; vast; very great.
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            The high, the mountain majesty of worth. --Byron.
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   Mountain antelope (Zool.), the goral.

   Mountain ash (Bot.), an ornamental tree, the Pyrus
      Americana (or Sorbus Americana), producing beautiful
      bunches of red berries. Its leaves are pinnate, and its
      flowers white, growing in fragrant clusters. The European
      species is the Pyrus aucuparia, or rowan tree.

   Mountain barometer, a portable barometer, adapted for safe
      transportation, used in measuring the heights of
      mountains.

   Mountain beaver (Zool.), the sewellel.

   Mountain blue (Min.), blue carbonate of copper; azurite.

   Mountain cat (Zool.), the catamount. See Catamount.

   Mountain chain, a series of contiguous mountain ranges,
      generally in parallel or consecutive lines or curves.

   Mountain cock (Zool.), capercailzie. See Capercailzie.

   Mountain cork (Min.), a variety of asbestus, resembling
      cork in its texture.

   Mountain crystal. See under Crystal.

   Mountain damson (Bot.), a large tree of the genus
      Simaruba (Simaruba amarga) growing in the West Indies,
      which affords a bitter tonic and astringent, sometimes
      used in medicine.

   Mountain dew, Scotch whisky, so called because often
      illicitly distilled among the mountains. [Humorous]

   Mountain ebony (Bot.), a small leguminous tree (Bauhinia
      variegata) of the East and West Indies; -- so called
      because of its dark wood. The bark is used medicinally and
      in tanning.

   Mountain flax (Min.), a variety of asbestus, having very
      fine fibers; amianthus. See Amianthus.

   Mountain fringe (Bot.), climbing fumitory. See under
      Fumitory.

   Mountain goat. (Zool.) See Mazama.

   Mountain green. (Min.)
      (a) Green malachite, or carbonate of copper.
      (b) See Green earth, under Green, a.

   Mountain holly (Bot.), a branching shrub (Nemopanthes
      Canadensis), having smooth oblong leaves and red berries.
      It is found in the Northern United States.

   Mountain laurel (Bot.), an American shrub (Kalmia
      latifolia) with glossy evergreen leaves and showy
      clusters of rose-colored or white flowers. The foliage is
      poisonous. Called also American laurel, ivy bush, and
      calico bush. See Kalmia.

   Mountain leather (Min.), a variety of asbestus, resembling
      leather in its texture.

   Mountain licorice (Bot.), a plant of the genus Trifolium
      (Trifolium Alpinum).

   Mountain limestone (Geol.), a series of marine limestone
      strata below the coal measures, and above the old red
      standstone of Great Britain. See Chart of Geology.

   Mountain linnet (Zool.), the twite.

   Mountain magpie. (Zool.)
      (a) The yaffle, or green woodpecker.
      (b) The European gray shrike.

   Mountain mahogany (Bot.) See under Mahogany.

   Mountain meal (Min.), a light powdery variety of calcite,
      occurring as an efflorescence.

   Mountain milk (Min.), a soft spongy variety of carbonate of
      lime.

   Mountain mint. (Bot.) See Mint.

   Mountain ousel (Zool.), the ring ousel; -- called also
      mountain thrush and mountain colley. See Ousel.

   Mountain pride, or Mountain green (Bot.), a tree of
      Jamaica (Spathelia simplex), which has an unbranched
      palmlike stem, and a terminal cluster of large, pinnate
      leaves.

   Mountain quail (Zool.), the plumed partridge (Oreortyx
      pictus) of California. It has two long, slender,
      plumelike feathers on the head. The throat and sides are
      chestnut; the belly is brown with transverse bars of black
      and white; the neck and breast are dark gray.

   Mountain range, a series of mountains closely related in
      position and direction.

   Mountain rice. (Bot.)
      (a) An upland variety of rice, grown without irrigation,
          in some parts of Asia, Europe, and the United States.
      (b) An American genus of grasses (Oryzopsis).

   Mountain rose (Bot.), a species of rose with solitary
      flowers, growing in the mountains of Europe (Rosa
      alpina).

   Mountain soap (Min.), a soft earthy mineral, of a brownish
      color, used in crayon painting; saxonite.

   Mountain sorrel (Bot.), a low perennial plant (Oxyria
      digyna with rounded kidney-form leaves, and small
      greenish flowers, found in the White Mountains of New
      Hampshire, and in high northern latitudes. --Gray.

   Mountain sparrow (Zool.), the European tree sparrow.

   Mountain spinach. (Bot.) See Orach.

   Mountain tobacco (Bot.), a composite plant (Arnica
      montana) of Europe; called also leopard's bane.

   Mountain witch (Zool.), a ground pigeon of Jamaica, of the
      genus Geotrygon.
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