Pheasant

Pheasant
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. [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. (Zo["o]l.) 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} (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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • PHEASANT — PHEASANT, the game bird Phasianus colchicus. The pheasant was known in Greek as Φασιανός and hence in mishnaic Hebrew as פַּסְיוֹנִי (pasyoni). It is not mentioned in the Bible, although pseudo Jonathan identified it with the biblical שְׂלָו… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • pheasant — [fez′ənt] n. pl. pheasants or pheasant [ME fesant < Anglo Fr < OFr faisan < L phasianus < Gr phasianos, after Phasis, river of Colchis: the birds are said to have been numerous near its mouth] 1. any of a number of large gallinaceous… …   English World dictionary

  • pheasant — late 13c., 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… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pheasant — ► NOUN ▪ a large long tailed game bird, the male of which typically has showy plumage. ORIGIN Greek phasianos bird of Phasis , a river in the Caucasus from which the bird is said to have spread westwards …   English terms dictionary

  • Pheasant — For other uses, see Pheasant (disambiguation). Phasianinae Mongolian Ringneck type Common Pheasant cock Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • pheasant — /fez euhnt/, n. 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. [1250 …   Universalium

  • pheasant — [[t]fe̱z(ə)nt[/t]] pheasants N COUNT (pheasant can also be used as the plural form.) A pheasant is a bird with a long tail. Pheasants are often shot as a sport and then eaten. N UNCOUNT Pheasant is the flesh of this bird eaten as food. ...roast… …   English dictionary

  • pheasant — UK [ˈfez(ə)nt] / US [ˈfezənt] noun Word forms pheasant : singular pheasant plural pheasant or pheasants a) [countable] a large bird with a long tail that is hunted for sport and food b) [uncountable] the meat from a pheasant …   English dictionary

  • pheasant — noun (plural pheasant or pheasants) Etymology: Middle English fesaunt, from Anglo French fesant, faisan, from Latin phasianus, from Greek (ornis) phasianos, from phasianos of the Phasis River, from Phasis, river in Colchis Date: 13th century 1.… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Pheasant — This interesting surname, of English origin, is a nickname for someone bearing a fancied resemblance to the bird, deriving from the Middle English fesaunt meaning pheasant . The surname dates back to the mid 12th Century (see below). Further… …   Surnames reference

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