pheasant
Use Pheasant in a sentence
ənt 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; Middle English fesaunt < Anglo-French; Old French fesan < Latin phāsiānus < Greek phāsiānós (órnis) (bird) of the Phasis, river in the Caucasus
1250–1300; Middle English fesaunt < Anglo-French; Old French fesan < Latin phāsiānus < Greek phāsiānós (órnis) (bird) of the Phasis, river in the Caucasus
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To pheasant
Collins
World English Dictionary
pheasant (ˈfɛzənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | any of various long-tailed gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, esp Phasianus colchicus (ring-necked pheasant), having a brightly-coloured plumage in the male: native to Asia but introduced elsewhere |
| 2. | any of various other gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, including the quails and partridges |
| 3. | (US), (Canadian) any of several other gallinaceous birds, esp the ruffed grouse |
| [C13: from Old French fesan, from Latin phāsiānus, from Greek phasianos ornis Phasian bird, named after the River Phasis, in Colchis] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Pheasant
is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
In regions of the state where corn and sunflowers are abundant, these grains become staples in the pheasant diet.
Pheasant populations can recover if there's enough good habitat to go around.
The pheasant grew so large that, when other birds challenged it for seed, it would simply frighten them away.
Summer marks the brooding stage in the pheasant reproductive cycle.
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