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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Wintergreen \Win"ter*green`\, n. (Bot.)
   A plant which keeps its leaves green through the winter.
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   Note: In England, the name wintergreen is applied to the
         species of Pyrola which in America are called
         English wintergreen, and shin leaf (see Shin leaf,
         under Shin.) In America, the name wintergreen is
         given to Gaultheria procumbens, a low evergreen
         aromatic plant with oval leaves clustered at the top of
         a short stem, and bearing small white flowers followed
         by red berries; -- called also checkerberry, and
         sometimes, though improperly, partridge berry.
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   Chickweed wintergreen, a low perennial primulaceous herb
      (Trientalis Americana); -- also called star flower.

   Flowering wintergreen, a low plant (Polygala paucifolia)
      with leaves somewhat like those of the wintergreen
      (Gaultheria), and bearing a few showy, rose-purple
      blossoms.

   oil of wintergreen, An aromatic oil, consisting almost
      entirely of methyl salicylate (CH3CO.O.C6H4.OH),
      obtained by distillation of an extract of the wintergreen
      (Gaultheria procumbens); it can also be obtained from
      some other plants. It is used as a flavoring agent for
      tooth powders and pastes, sometimes combined with menthol
      or eucalyptus. It is called also oil of teaberry, oil
      of partridgeberry, and oil of gaultheria.

   Spotted wintergreen, a low evergreen plant (Chimaphila
      maculata) with ovate, white-spotted leaves.
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