Ptarmigan

2 definitions found

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

  Ptarmigan \Ptar"mi*gan\, n. [Gael. tarmachan; cf. Ir. tarmochan,
     tarmonach.] (Zool.)
     Any grouse of the genus {Lagopus}, of which numerous species
     are known. The feet are completely feathered. Most of the
     species are brown in summer, but turn white, or nearly white,
     in winter.


     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: They chiefly inhabit the northern countries and high
           mountains of Europe, Asia, and America. The common
           European species is {Lagopus mutus}. The Scotch grouse,
           red grouse, or moor fowl ({Lagopus Scoticus}), is
           reddish brown, and does not turn white in winter. The
           white, or willow, ptarmigan ({Lagopus albus}) is found
           in both Europe and America.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ptarmigan
       n : large arctic and subarctic grouse with feathered feet and
           usually white winter plumage