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It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. |
P`ARTRIDGE, n. [L. perdix.] A wild fowl of the genus Tatrao. Latham arranges the partridge and quail in a genus under the name of Perdix, and assigns the grous to the genus Tetrao. The partridge is esteemed a great delicacy at the table.
Any one of
numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of the genus
Perdix and several related genera of the family
Perdicidæ, of the Old World. The partridge is noted as a
game bird.
Full many a fat partrich had he in mew. Chaucer. * The common European, or gray, partridge (Perdix cinerea) and the red-legged partridge (Caccabis rubra) of Southern Europe and Asia are well-known species. Any one of several species of quail-like
birds belonging to Colinus, and allied genera.
[U.S.]
* Among them are the bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) of the Eastern States; the plumed, or mountain, partridge (Oreortyx pictus) of California; the Massena partridge (Cyrtonyx Montezumæ); and the California partridge (Callipepla Californica). The ruffed grouse (Bonasa
umbellus).
[New Eng.]
Bamboo partridge (Zoöl.), a
spurred partridge of the genus Bambusicola. Several species are
found in China and the East Indies. -- Night
partridge (Zoöl.), the woodcock.
[Local, U.S.] -- Painted partridge
(Zoöl.), a francolin of South Africa (Francolinus
pictus). -- Partridge berry. (Bot.)
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