DCHP-1 Online
partridge 
1 n. any of various grouse found in Canada, especially the ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus.
See also: birch partridge ruffed grouse
- 1578 Our men haue eaten of their Beares, Hares, Patriches, Larkes, and of their wild foule, and find them reasonable good meate, but not so delectable as oures.
- 1626 I knew one Fowler in a winter, which killed aboue 700. Partridges himselfe at Renoos.
- 1775 (1951) Two men daily hunting Partridges & Rabbets, but small success being scarce, particularly Rabbets.
- 1849 In deep and retired places in the woods it was interesting to creep upon and watch the partridge, or more properly the ruffed grouse drumming on a prostrate log. . . .
- 1958 Occasionally we were lucky enough to kill a partridge or skunk, and this formed a welcome addition to the rubaboo.
2 n. the ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus.
See also: willow ptarmigan
- 1696, 1929 Some of our men went a hunting & brought home 4 patridges & some came home from ye fourteens & brought 20 trouts.
- 1742 (1852) I observed that the hares, rabbits, foxes, and partridges, in September and the beginning of October, change their native colour to a snowy white.
- 1835 (1836) The partridge, or ptarmigan, were also very numerous upon these hills, searching for a species of cranberry, which is called here, the partridge-berry.
- 1964 [Folder] Caribou, moose and bear roam the more open sections of the country and partridge are plentiful on the barrens.
- 1578 Our men haue eaten of their Beares, Hares, Patriches, Larkes, and of their wild foule, and find them reasonable good meate, but not so delectable as oures.