pheasant

[ fez-uhnt ]

noun

1. any of numerous large, usually long-tailed, Old World gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, widely introduced.
2. any of various other birds that resemble or suggest a pheasant.
3. Southern U.S. the ruffed grouse ( def ).

pheasant

/ ˈfɛzənt /

noun

1. any of various long-tailed gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, esp Phasianus colchicus ( ring-necked pheasant ), having a brightly-coloured plumage in the male: native to Asia but introduced elsewhere
2. any of various other gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, including the quails and partridges
3. any of several other gallinaceous birds, esp the ruffed grouse

Word History and Origins

Origin of pheasant¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English fesaunt, from Anglo-French; Old French fesan, from Latin phāsiānus, from Greek phāsiānós (órnis) “(bird) of the Phasis,” a river in the Caucasus

Word History and Origins

Origin of pheasant¹

C13: from Old French fesan, from Latin phāsiānus, from Greek phasianos ornis Phasian bird, named after the River Phasis, in Colchis

Example Sentences

The organisation said that was because gamekeepers are trying to protect their grouse, pheasants and partridge - and the profits they bring.

From BBC

“I’m of an age where my shotgun was in my car so I could pheasant hunt after football practice,” said Walz, explaining why he changed his views on gun control.

From Los Angeles Times

Noem describes taking Cricket on a pheasant hunt with older dogs to train her, details of which were first reported by the Guardian.

From Los Angeles Times

In it, she reportedly blames Cricket for ruining a pheasant hunt, killing another family’s chickens and biting, or trying to bite, her.

From New York Times

Instead, Cricket chased the pheasants, attacked a family’s chickens during a stop on the way home and then “whipped around to bite me,” she wrote.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• chicken
• duck
• fowl
• geese
• pigeon