partridge
    n 1: flesh of either quail or grouse
    2: heavy-bodied small-winged South American game bird resembling
       a gallinaceous bird but related to the ratite birds [syn:
       tinamou, partridge]
    3: small Old World gallinaceous game birds
    4: a popular North American game bird; named for its call [syn:
       bobwhite, bobwhite quail, partridge]
    5: valued as a game bird in eastern United States and Canada
       [syn: ruffed grouse, partridge, Bonasa umbellus]

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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Full many a fat partrich had he in mew. --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging
      to Colinus, and allied genera. [U.S.]
      [1913 Webster]

   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).
         [1913 Webster]

   3. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). [New Eng.]
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

Ruffed \Ruffed\, a.
   Furnished with a ruff.
   [1913 Webster]

   Ruffed grouse (Zool.), a North American grouse (Bonasa
      umbellus) common in the wooded districts of the Northern
      United States. The male has a ruff of brown or black
      feathers on each side of the neck, and is noted for the
      loud drumming sound he makes during the breeding season.
      Called also tippet grouse, partridge, birch
      partridge, pheasant, drummer, and white-flesher.

   ruffed lemur (Zool.), a species of lemur (lemur varius)
      having a conspicuous ruff on the sides of the head. Its
      color is varied with black and white. Called also ruffed
      maucaco.
      [1913 Webster]

Partridge
   (Heb. kore, i.e., "caller"). This bird, unlike our own
   partridge, is distinguished by "its ringing call-note, which in
   early morning echoes from cliff to cliff amidst the barrenness
   of the wilderness of Judea and the glens of the forest of
   Carmel" hence its Hebrew name. This name occurs only twice in
   Scripture.
   
     In 1 Sam. 26:20 "David alludes to the mode of chase practised
   now, as of old, when the partridge, continuously chased, was at
   length, when fatigued, knocked down by sticks thrown along the
   ground." It endeavours to save itself "by running, in preference
   to flight, unless when suddenly started. It is not an inhabitant
   of the plain or the corn-field, but of rocky hill-sides"
   (Tristram's Nat. Hist.).
   
     In Jer. 17:11 the prophet is illustrating the fact that riches
   unlawfully acquired are precarious and short-lived. The exact
   nature of the illustration cannot be precisely determined. Some
   interpret the words as meaning that the covetous man will be as
   surely disappointed as the partridge which gathers in eggs, not
   of her own laying, and is unable to hatch them; others
   (Tristram), with more probability, as denoting that the man who
   enriches himself by unjust means "will as surely be disappointed
   as the partridge which commences to sit, but is speedily robbed
   of her hopes of a brood" by her eggs being stolen away from her.
   
     The commonest partridge in Palestine is the Caccabis
   saxatilis, the Greek partridge. The partridge of the wilderness
   (Ammo-perdix heyi) is a smaller species. Both are essentially
   mountain and rock birds, thus differing from the English
   partridge, which loves cultivated fields.
   

Partridge, KS -- U.S. city in Kansas
   Population (2000):    259
   Housing Units (2000): 106
   Land area (2000):     0.465275 sq. miles (1.205057 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    0.465275 sq. miles (1.205057 sq. km)
   FIPS code:            54700
   Located within:       Kansas (KS), FIPS 20
   Location:             37.967308 N, 98.091511 W
   ZIP Codes (1990):     67566
   Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
   Headwords:
    Partridge, KS
    Partridge