: any of various typically medium-sized stout-bodied Old World gallinaceous birds (Perdix, Alectoris, and related genera) with variegated plumage that are often hunted as game
2
: any of various related birds (such as the American ruffed grouse or bobwhite) resembling the Old World partridges in size, habits, or value as game
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And so our investment carol concludes, not with partridges and pear trees, but with timeless wisdom that could grow your wealth tree for generations to come.—Robert Daugherty, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 The girl boards the ship with four eggs, three sons, two hatchlings (and a partridge in a pear tree).—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 30 June 2024 Pliny noted that blackbirds, partridges, jays and pigeons also eat bay leaves for digestive problems.—Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024 About 100,000 birds, including pheasants, chukar, Hungarian and French red-legged partridges, were killed by animal health authorities after the finding.—Journal Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for partridge
Word History
Etymology
Middle English partrich, modification of Anglo-French perdriz, alteration of Old French perdix, from Latin perdic-, perdix, from Greek perdik-, perdix
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