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pheasantn.Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French fesant, faisant. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman fesant, fesante, fesaunt, fesaunte, feisaunt, pheasant, pheysaun and Old French faisant, feisant, fesaunt, faissan (late 12th cent., chiefly northern; Middle French faisant , French faisan ) < (perhaps via Old Occitan faisan (second half of the 13th cent.; Occitan faisan )) classical Latin phāsiānus (late 2nd or early 3rd cent. a.d.; compare note below) < ancient Greek ϕασιανός , use as noun (short for ϕασιανὸς ὄρνις : see ornitho- comb. form) of ϕασανός of or relating to the river Phasis < Φᾶσις , the name of a river in Colchis (now the Rion in Georgia) and of a town on its estuary, whence the pheasant is said to have spread into the west + -ανος -an suffix. Compare Catalan faisà (14th cent.), Spanish faisán (1300–5), Italian fagiano (a1294). Compare also Old High German fasan (Middle High German fasant, fasān, German Fasan), Middle Dutch fasaen, also faysant (Dutch fazant, †fasaan), Swedish fasan (1563 as fassan; also †fasant), all ultimately of Romance origin.The final -t is probably an Old French development, showing analogical remodelling of the morphological pattern -anz :-an after words with -anz :-ant . Compare tyrant n., romaunt n., and also -ant suffix3. In forms in -ia- apparently after classical Latin phāsiānus. In classical Latin the feminine form phāsiāna (short for phāsiāna avis Phasian bird) is more common. For earlier currency of the Latin bird name (and also the bird) in Britain compare:1059 Inventory Santæ Crucis apud Waltham (1861) 16 Unicuique canonico..ii. perdices aut unus phasianus. 1. the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [noun] > general or unspecified member the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [noun] > genus Phasianus > phasianus colchicus (pheasant) α. c1299 in J. T. Fowler (1899) II. 498 (MED) Uno fesaund empt. a1375 (c1350) (1867) 183 Wiþ fesauns & feldfares and oþer foules grete. c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer 357 The fesaunt, skornere of the cok by nyghte. 1490 W. Caxton tr. (1885) iv. 124 Dyverse pertryches and feysauntes. a1500 (Harl.) (1966) 296 Of game they fonde grete haunt, Fesaunt, heron, and cormerant. c1530 A. Barclay ii. sig. Kij v The crane, the fesant, the pecocke & curlewe. 1535 Bp. J. Fisher (1876) 370 It is a more goodly beinge..of a goodly Fesaund. 1543 B. Traheron tr. J. de Vigo i. ii. f. 75/1 Of chyckens, of hennes, of capons, of faysannes. 1588 T. Kyd tr. T. Tasso f. 5 For the desire of Feisants or Partrich. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1888) I. 39 Sumthing les than the fasiane. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius 321 Patridges and Feasants are common. 1697 122 None shall take Fesants or Partridges with Engins. 1877 E. Peacock Fezzan, a pheasant. β. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vi. 2223 (MED) A Phesant cam before here yhe.1530 J. Palsgrave 254/1 Phesaunt a byrde, faisant.1603 G. Owen (1892) 268 The Phesant and Partridg.a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iv. 744 I haue no Pheazant Cock, nor Hen. View more context for this quotation1635 T. Heywood i. Comm. 41 Figured like a Wood-hen or shee-pheasant.a1653 G. Daniel Landskip in 5 Fame, a peircht Phaisant and the Quest of Kings, Keepes her at Bay.a1657 G. Daniel (1878) II. 37 Fair as the Phasiant.1747 G. Edwards II. 69 I have three Sorts of Chinese Cock Pheasants, and the Hens of two of them.1753 T. Gray Long Story in 17 A wicked imp..Bewitch'd the children of the peasants,..And suck'd the eggs, and kill'd the pheasants.1806 P. Hawker I. 4 4 brace of pheasants.1873 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ xxvii She enjoyed occasionally startling a pheasant as it rose with a sudden whirr.1911 J. London 171 It was more like slaughtering fat, hand-reared pheasants on the English preserves.1994 Mar. 36/3 Biologists also listen for..the crowing of cock pheasants and the whistle of the male bobwhite quail.2002 Feb. 68/2 In Pennsylvania the quarry is pheasants, in Michigan more ruffs and woodcock.the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Tetraonidae (grouse) > [noun] > genus Tympanuchus > tympanuchus cupido (prairie-chicken) the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Tetraonidae (grouse) > [noun] > genus Bonasa > bonasa umbellus (ruffled grouse) the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [noun] > member of genus Francolinus the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > [noun] > member of Megapodidae (mound-builder) > leipoa ocellata (mallee fowl) 1625 W. Morrell 15 The Fowles that in those Bayes and Harbours feede..Are Swans and Geese, Herne, Phesants, Duck & Crane. 1637 T. Morton ii. iv. 70 A kinde of fowles which are commonly called Pheisants, but whether they be pheysants or no, I will not take upon mee, to determine. 1752 J. Robson 12 The hunters and trappers shoot partridges, pheasants, and other game for the subsistence of the factory. 1766 W. Stork 51 The pheasant is in size like the European, its plumage like that of our partridge. 1785 G. Forster tr. A. Sparrman I. iv. 153 I found here two new species of the genus of tetrao, one of which is called partridge and the other pheasant: either sort being nearly of the size of our partridges. 1798 D. Collins (1802) II. 88 A few birds which, from the length of the tail feathers, they denominated pheasants. 1805 Z. M. Pike (1810) 31 Killed three prairie hens, and two pheasants. 1837 N. Polson v. 119 There is also a bird, general all over the Colony, styled ‘pheasant’, though about as like a pheasant of England as a Dutch Boer is to a Bond-street exquisite. 1855 H. W. Longfellow v. 66 He..Heard the pheasant, Bena, drumming. 1883 C. F. Adams in 194 (note) The Pheasant of Morton and other early writers has been supposed by ornithologists to be the Prairie Hen or Pinnated Grouse (Cupidonia cupido). 1885 C. Swainson 31 Bearded titmouse... Reed pheasant, or simply, pheasant (Norfolk). 1893 A. Newton et al. 541 Known in England as the Mallee-bird, but to the colonists as Lowan and ‘Native Pheasant’—the Lipoa ocellata. 1896 R. Wallace i. 15 No true pheasant..is found in Africa... Several species of francolins belonging to the same family..are known as pheasants. 1928 B. Spencer 551 We came across the Coucal, which is really a cuckoo, but quite unlike most of these in appearance. It is commonly called a ‘pheasant’ because the male bird has a long, black, arching tail. 1951 D. Collins 136 He had a bushman's turn for a phrase, and lyrebirds were pheasants to him. 1970 II. 345/1 Most of the birds of the open veld are well camouflaged, for example the pheasants, partridges and quails, the bustards and korhaans. the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > game > [noun] > flesh of game birds > specific game birds c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) (1973) 3121 (MED) Of fesaunce, pertris, & of crane Þer was plente. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xv. 455 He fedde hem with no venysoun ne fesauntes ybake. a1475 (Sloane) (1862) 23 (MED) For to boyle fesawantes and pertryks. 1539 T. Elyot (new ed.) 29 b Fesaunt excedeth all fowles in swetenesse and holsomnesse. 1598 Chaucers Dreame in T. Speght f. 357/1 The second apple..You nourishes in pleasaunce Better than Partridge or Fesaunce. 1647 J. Howell 231 One past makes up the prince and peasan, Though one eat rootes, the other feasan. 1682 N. Tate & J. Dryden 15 To what wou'd he on Quail and Pheasant swell, That ev'n on Tripe and Carrion cou'd rebell? 1871 M. Collins I. ix. 275 I should like a broiled pheasant. 1994 Dec. 81/2 Richard directs the kitchen staff in creating seasonal menu items, such as pheasant with apple and sausage dressing. Compounds C1. 1892 W. W. Greener 224 Pheasant-driving is pursued..for the object of obtaining sporting shots. 1998 (Nexis) Nov. 10 Gamekeepers complain that it also hinders pheasant driving and that birds falling foul of that fencing are easy prey for foxes and dogs. 1829 23 392 A county..which..has degenerated..into a mere hare-warren and pheasant-mew. 1850 D. J. Browne 41 The dark pheasant-plumed breed, both of Bantams and common poultry. 2002 (Nexis) 20 Oct. 10 An understated..bronze, lizard-inspired suit, teamed with a..pheasant-plumed hat. 1579 E. Hake iv. sig. D2v Fat Pheasaunt Powt, and Plouer base for them that after come. 1708 P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais (1737) iv. lix. 243 Phesants, and Phesant poots. 1976 27 Nov. 9/5 The protection of pheasant poults from predators. 1811 L. Hunt in 7 July 418/1 The grave Doctors could hardly have ventured to compliment him..on his great prowess in pheasant-shooting. 1989 L. H. C. Kennedy (1990) (BNC) There was..grouse-shooting in the autumn and pheasant-shooting in the winter. C2. the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [noun] > genus Phasianus > phasianus colchicus (pheasant) > male 1324 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell (1845) I. 168 (MED) Fesant henne ant fesant cocke. a1475 (Sloane) (1862) 36 (MED) Þo fesaunt kok, but not þo henne. 1626 F. Bacon §852 The Pea~cocke, and Phesant-Cocke, and Gold-Finch-Cocke, have glorious and fine Colours. 1979 T. Hughes 95 The pheasant cock's glare-cry. 1588 in J. M. Bestall & D. V. Fowkes (1977) 203 9 yeards pewcke..9 yeards feasand collare..3 yeards feasand culare..towe yeards skye carsie. 1850 D. J. Browne 42 The beauty of the breed is with the hens, which are of a pheasant-color in all parts of the body, with a velvety-black neck. 1967 6 Oct. 2 (advt.) Country suit, jacket has centre vent. Pheasant colour. 1864 R. Jennings 347 They [sc. Mexican hen-cocks] are generally pheasant-colored, with occasional changes in plumage from a light yellow to a dark gray. 1990 (Nexis) 10 Mar. Tipping her head backwards and pouring her windblown grey hair into a pheasant-coloured headscarf. the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Cuculiformes (cuckoos, etc.) > [noun] > family Cuculidae > member of genus Centropus (coucal) > centropus phasianus (pheasant-coucal) 1801 J. Latham Suppl. II. 137 Pheasant C[oucal]. This is a beautiful species..the whole of the back and wings varied with rufous, yellow, brown, and black, somewhat similar to a Pheasant or Woodcock. 1944 A. Russell ii. 17 The cuckoos, with the single exception of the pheasant-coucal, build no nests of their own. 1995 145 310 Large carnivores (raptors and the pheasant coucal..) are omitted from these analyses because, as a group, they appear to behave quite differently. the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Cuculiformes (cuckoos, etc.) > [noun] > family Cuculidae > member of genus Centropus (coucal) > centropus phasianus (pheasant-coucal) 1827 P. P. King II. 8 Several black cockatoos and the pheasant cuckoo were seen. 1846 J. L. Stokes I. vi. 125 I enjoyed some very fair sport; especially with the pheasant-cuckoo. 1999 13 89/2 None of the three forest-dwelling terrestrial insectivores that disappeared during the 1970s or 1980s (Pheasant Cuckoo.., Ocellated Antbird.., and Spectacled Antpitta..) had recolonized the island. 1815 1 134 Latham says, that the American widgeon, (anas Americana,) or pheasant duck, as it is called at New-York, has been domesticated. 1888 G. Trumbull 74 At Morehead, N.C., [the hooded merganser is called] pheasant duck, and more commonly pheasant. 1982 R. Elman 156 Pintail... Common & regional names..pheasant-duck, water pheasant [etc.]. 1890 4440/2 Pheasant-finch, an African astrild, Astrilda undulata: so called from its general figure and coloration. the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Tetraonidae (grouse) > [noun] > genus Tympanuchus > tympanuchus phasianellus (pintail) 1772 (Royal Soc.) 62 396 The native Indians call these pheasant grouses. 1871 C. Darwin ii. xiv. 101 The black-cock, capercailzie, pheasant-grouse..are, as is believed, polygamists. 1912 39 346 (note) Other rare species are Lord Derby's parroquet..and Széchenyi's pheasant grouse (Petroophasis szechenyii). the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > [noun] > genus Phasianus > phasianus colchicus (pheasant) > female 1324 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell (1845) I. 168 (MED) Fesant henne ant fesant cocke. 1772 S. Neville 16 Oct. (1950) viii. 182 Shot 7 or 8 times, killed only a pheasant hen. 1996 52 243 Fuller..used the variance ratio method to estimate the relationship between spring and autumn counts of pheasant hens in the state of Iowa. the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > genus Gallus (domestic fowl) > [noun] > types of > Malayan 1850 D. J. Browne 28 The cross between the pheasant-Malay and the Spanish produces a particularly handsome fowl. 1864 R. Jennings 356 The Pheasant Malay. This variety is highly valued by many..because it is believed to be a cross between the pheasant and the common fowl. 1993 (Nexis) 24 Feb. Indian Game are classified as heavy fowl of British origin. However, the breed changed considerably with the introduction of the Pheasant Malay. 1925 9 Apr. 5/4 The trout took them well, but liked the dainty ‘pheasant tail’ even better. 1975 V. Canning x. 165 He had fished this river..throwing a small pheasant-tail fly to..a rising trout. 2003 (Nexis) 22 May c2 The fishing is good on the Upper Pecos using bead-head Pheasant Tails, Copper John Barrs, Elk-Hair Caddis and spinners for trout. 1844 J. Gould (1848) V. Pl. 75 From what I could personally observe during my residence in New South Wales, the Pheasant-tailed Pigeon resorts entirely to the brushes. 1889 at Jacana The pheasant-tailed jacana of India, Hydrophasianus chirurgus..has a very long tail. 1943 C. Barrett 157 The white-headed pigeon..and the ‘brownie’, or pheasant-tailed pigeon..belong to the wood-pigeon family. 1991 C. Willock (BNC) 95 The male pheasant-tailed jacana takes over once the eggs are laid and broods them. society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > wood of specific trees > [noun] > woods of leguminous trees 1852 C. Tomlinson (1854) I. Introd. p. cxxi Ebony, mahogany, pheasant-wood, rosewood. 1884 W. Miller Pheasant-wood, another name for Partridge-wood. 1971 F. H. Titmuss (ed. 4) 49 It [sc. angelin] may be known in this country as ‘partridge wood’ and in the United States as ‘pheasant wood’. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.c1299 |