/ pɜːtʃ; NAmE pɜːrtʃ/ verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ v ] perch (on sth) ( of a bird ) to land and stay on a branch, etc. :
A robin was perching on the fence.
2.
perch (sb / yourself) (on sth) ( informal ) to sit or to make sb sit on sth, especially on the edge of it :
[ v ]
We perched on a couple of high stools at the bar.
[ vn ]
She perched herself on the edge of the bed.
➡ note at sit
3.
[ v ] perch (on sth) to be placed on the top or the edge of sth :
The hotel perched precariously on a steep hillside.
■ noun
1.
a place where a bird rests, especially a branch or bar for this purpose, for example in a bird's cage
2.
a high seat or position :
He watched the game from his precarious perch on top of the wall.
3.
( pl. perch ) a freshwater fish that is sometimes used for food
•
IDIOMS
see knock verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun senses 1 to 2 late Middle English : the noun from perch a measure of length (from Old French perche , from Latin pertica measuring rod, pole); the verb from Old French percher .
noun sense 3 late Middle English : from Old French perche , via Latin from Greek perkē .