Pheasant

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pheasant \Pheas"ant\ (f[e^]z"ant), n. [OE. fesant, fesaunt, OF.
     faisant, faisan, F. faisan, L. phasianus, Gr. fasiano`s (sc.
     'o`rnis) the Phasian bird, pheasant, fr. Fa`sis a river in
     Colchis or Pontus.]
     1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large gallinaceous
        birds of the genus {Phasianus}, and many other genera of


        the family {Phasianid[ae]}, found chiefly in Asia.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The
  
     {common pheasant}, or {English pheasant} ({Phasianus
        Colchicus}) is now found over most of temperate Europe,
        but was introduced from Asia. The
  
     {ring-necked pheasant} ({Phasianus torquatus}) and the
  
     {green pheasant} ({Phasianus versicolor}) have been
        introduced into Oregon. The
  
     {golden pheasant} ({Thaumalea picta}) is one of the most
        beautiful species. The
  
     {silver pheasant} ({Euplocamus nychthemerus}) of China, and
        several related species from Southern Asia, are very
        beautiful.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) The ruffed grouse. [Southern U.S.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Various other birds are locally called pheasants, as
           the lyre bird, the leipoa, etc.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Fireback pheasant}. See {Fireback}.
  
     {Gold pheasant}, or {Golden pheasant} (Zool.), a Chinese
        pheasant ({Thaumalea picta}), having rich, varied colors.
        The crest is amber-colored, the rump is golden yellow, and
        the under parts are scarlet.
  
     {Mountain pheasant} (Zool.), the ruffed grouse. [Local, U.S.]
        
  
     {Pheasant coucal} (Zool.), a large Australian cuckoo
        ({Centropus phasianus}). The general color is black, with
        chestnut wings and brown tail. Called also {pheasant
        cuckoo}. The name is also applied to other allied species.
        
  
     {Pheasant duck}. (Zool.)
        (a) The pintail.
        (b) The hooded merganser.
  
     {Pheasant parrot} (Zool.), a large and beautiful Australian
        parrakeet ({Platycercus Adelaidensis}). The male has the
        back black, the feathers margined with yellowish blue and
        scarlet, the quills deep blue, the wing coverts and cheeks
        light blue, the crown, sides of the neck, breast, and
        middle of the belly scarlet.
  
     {Pheasant's eye}. (Bot.)
        (a) A red-flowered herb ({Adonis autumnalis}) of the
            Crowfoot family; -- called also {pheasant's-eye
            Adonis}.
        (b) The garden pink ({Dianthus plumarius}); -- called also
            {Pheasant's-eye pink}.
  
     {Pheasant shell} (Zool.), any marine univalve shell of the
        genus {Phasianella}, of which numerous species are found
        in tropical seas. The shell is smooth and usually richly
        colored, the colors often forming blotches like those of a
        pheasant.
  
     {Pheasant wood}. (Bot.) Same as {Partridge wood}
        (a), under {Partridge}.
  
     {Sea pheasant} (Zool.), the pintail.
  
     {Water pheasant}. (Zool.)
        (a) The sheldrake.
        (b) The hooded merganser.
            [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  pheasant
       n 1: large long-tailed gallinaceous bird native to the Old World
            but introduced elsewhere
       2: flesh of a pheasant; usually braised