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Definition of pheasant - 4 dictionary results
pheas⋅ant
[fez-uh
nt] 
–noun
| 1. | any of numerous large, usually long-tailed, Old World gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, widely introduced. |
| 2. | any of various other birds that resemble or suggest a pheasant. |
| 3. | Southern U.S. the ruffed grouse. |
Origin:
1250–1300; ME fesaunt < AF; OF fesan < L phāsiānus < Gk phāsiānós (órnis) (bird) of the Phasis, river in the Caucasus
1250–1300; ME fesaunt < AF; OF fesan < L phāsiānus < Gk phāsiānós (órnis) (bird) of the Phasis, river in the Caucasus
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To pheasant
| pheas·ant (fěz'ənt) n. pl. pheas·ants or pheasant
[Middle English fesaunt, from Old French fesan, from Latin phāsiānus, from Greek phāsiānos (ornīs), (bird) of the Phasis River, pheasant, from Phāsis, the ancient name for the Rioni River in the Republic of Georgia.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Pheasant
Pheas"ant\, n. [OE. fesant, fesaunt, OF. faisant, faisan, F. faisan, L. phasianus, Gr. ? (sc. ?) the Phasian bird, pheasant, fr. ? a river in Colchis or Pontus.]1. (Zo["o]l.) 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. Note: The common, or English, {pheasant (Phasianus Colchicus) is now found over most of temperate Europe, but was introduced from Asia. The ring-necked pheasant (P. torquatus) and the green pheasant (P. 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. 2. (Zo["o]l.) The ruffed grouse. [Southern U.S.] Note: Various other birds are locally called pheasants, as the lyre bird, the leipoa, etc. Fireback pheasant. See Fireback. Gold, or Golden, pheasant (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), the ruffed grouse. [Local, U.S.] Pheasant coucal (Zo["o]l.), 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. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The pintail. (b) The hooded merganser. Pheasant parrot (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), the pintail. Water pheasant. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The sheldrake. (b) The hooded merganser.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : pheasant
Spanish:
faisán,
German:
der Fasan,
Japanese:
きじ
pheasant
1299, from Anglo-Fr. fesaunt, O.Fr. faisan (13c.), from L. phasianus, from Gk. phasianos "a pheasant," lit. "Phasian bird," from Phasis, river flowing into the Black Sea in Colchis, where the birds were said to have been numerous. The ph- was restored in Eng. late 14c. The excrescent -t is due to confusion with -ant suffix of nouns formed from prp. of verbs in first L. conjugation (peasant, tyrant, etc.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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