— partridgelike , adj.
/pahr"trij/ , n. , pl. partridges , ( esp. collectively ) partridge .
1. any of several Old World gallinaceous game birds of the subfamily Perdicinae, esp. Perdix perdix.
2. Chiefly Northern U.S. the ruffed grouse.
3. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. bobwhite.
4. any of several other North American gallinaceous game birds.
5. any of various South and Central American tinamous.
[ 1250-1300; ME partrich, var. of pertrich pertris, var. of perdris, OF perd ( r ) iz perdix pérdix ]