partridge

noun, plural par·tridg·es, (especially collectively) par·tridge.

1. any of several Old World gallinaceous game birds of the subfamily Perdicinae, especially 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.

noun

1. Eric (Hon·ey·wood) [huhn-ee-woo d] /ˈhʌn iˌwʊd/, 1894–1979, British lexicographer, born in New Zealand.

noun plural -tridges or -tridge

1. any of various small Old World gallinaceous game birds of the genera Perdix, Alectoris, etc, esp P. perdix (common or European partridge): family Phasianidae (pheasants)
2. US and Canadian any of various other gallinaceous birds, esp the bobwhite and ruffed grouse

noun

1. Eric (Honeywood). 1894–1979, British lexicographer, born in New Zealand; author of works on English usage, idiom, slang, and etymology

n.late 12c., from Old French pertis, alteration of perdis (perhaps influenced by fem. suffix -tris), from Latin perdicem (nominative perdix) “plover, lapwing,” from Greek perdix, the Greek partridge, probably related to perdesthai “to break wind,” in reference to the whirring noise of the bird’s wings, from PIE imitative base *perd- “to break wind” (cf. Sanskrit pardate “breaks wind,” Lithuanian perdzu, Russian perdet, Old High German ferzan, Old Norse freta, Middle English farten).