perch 1
— perchable , adj.
/perrch/ , n.
1. a pole or rod, usually horizontal, serving as a roost for birds.
2. any place or object, as a sill, fence, branch, or twig, for a bird, animal, or person to alight or rest upon.
3. a high or elevated position, resting place, or the like.
4. a small, elevated seat for the driver of any of certain vehicles.
5. a pole connecting the fore and hind running parts of a spring carriage or other vehicle.
6. a post set up as a navigational aid on a navigational hazard or on a buoy.
7. Brit.
a. a linear or square rod.
b. a measure of volume for stone, about 24 cubic feet (0.7 cubic meters).
8. Textiles. an apparatus consisting of two vertical posts and a horizontal roller, used for inspecting cloth after it leaves the loom.
9. Obs. any pole, rod, or the like.
v.i.
10. to alight or rest upon a perch.
11. to settle or rest in some elevated position, as if on a perch.
v.t.
12. to set or place on or as if on a perch.
13. to inspect (cloth) for defects and blemishes after it has been taken from the loom and placed upon a perch.
[ 1250-1300; ME perche pertica pole, staff, measuring rod ]
perch 2
/perrch/ , n. , pl. ( esp. collectively ) perch , ( esp. referring to two or more kinds or species ) perches .
1. any spiny-finned, freshwater food fish of the genus Perca, as P. flavescens (yellow perch) , of the U.S., or P. fluviatilis, of Europe.
2. any of various other related, spiny-finned fishes.
3. any of several embioticid fishes, as Hysterocarpus traski (tule perch) of California.
[ 1350-1400; ME perche perca pérke ]