pheasant Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun large long-tailed gallinaceous bird native to the Old World but introduced elsewhere
noun flesh of a pheasant; usually braised

OE. fesant, fesaunt, OF. faisant, faisan, F. faisan, L. phasianus, Gr. (sc. ) the Phasian bird, pheasant, fr. a river in Colchis or Pontus.

(Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of large gallinaceous birds of the genus Phasianus, and many other genera of the family Phasianidæ, found chiefly in Asia. ✍ The common, ∨ English, pheasant (Phasianus Colchicus) is now found over most of temperate Europe, but was introduced from Asia. The ring-necked pheasant (P. torquatus) and the green pheasant (P. versicolor) have been introduced into Oregon. The golden pheasant (Thaumalea picta) is one of the most beautiful species. The silver pheasant (Euplocamus nychthemerus) of China, and several related species from Southern Asia, are very beautiful.
(Zoöl.) The ruffed grouse. Southern U.S. ✍ Various other birds are locally called pheasants, as the lyre bird, the leipoa, etc.