[pheas.ant] n, pl pheasant or pheasants [ME fesaunt, fr. AF, fr. OF fesan, fr. L phasianus, fr. Gk phasianos, fr. phasianos of the Phasis River, fr. Phasis, river in Colchis] (13c) 1: any of numerous large often long-tailed and brightly colored Old World gallinaceous birds (Phasianus and related genera of the family Phasianidae) including many raised as ornamental or game birds
2: any of various birds resembling a pheasant