grouse \grouse\ grous, n. sing.  pl. prob. after the analogy
   of mouse, mice, fr. the earlier grice, of. griesche meor hen:
   cf. f. piegri`eche shrike. zool.
   any of the numerous species of gallinaceous birds of the
   family tetraonidae, and subfamily tetraoninae,
   inhabiting europe, asia, and north america. they have plump
   bodies, strong, well-feathered legs, and usually mottled
   plumage. the group includes the ptarmigans lagopus,
   having feathered feet.
   1913 webster

   note: among the european species are the red grouse lagopus
         scoticus and the hazel grouse bonasa betulina.
         see capercaidzie, ptarmigan, and heath grouse.
         among the most important american species are the
         ruffed grouse, or new england partridge bonasa
         umbellus; the sharp-tailed grouse pediocaetes
         phasianellus of the west; the dusky blue, or pine
         grouse dendragapus obscurus of the rocky mountains;
         the canada grouse, or spruce partridge d.
         canadensis. see also prairie hen, and sage cock.
         the old world sand grouse pterocles, etc. belong to
         a very different family. see pterocletes, and sand
         grouse.
         1913 webster
see also:
tetraonidae tetraoninae lagopus lagopus scoticus bonasa betulina capercaidzie 
ptarmigan heath grouse bonasa umbellus pediocaetes phasianellus dendragapus obscurus 
d. canadensis prairie hen sage cock pterocles pterocletes 
sand grouse 

partridge \par"tridge\ paumr"tri^j, n. oe. partriche,
   pertriche, of. pertris, perdriz, f. perdrix, l. perdix,
   -icis, fr. gr. pe`rdix. zool.
   1. any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of
      the genus perdix and several related genera of the
      family perdicidae, of the old world. the partridge is
      noted as a game bird.
      1913 webster

            full many a fat partrich had he in mew. --chaucer.
      1913 webster

   note: the common european, or gray, partridge perdix
         cinerea and the red-legged partridge caccabis
         rubra of southern europe and asia are well-known
         species.
         1913 webster

   2. any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging
      to colinus, and allied genera. u.s.
      1913 webster

   note: among them are the bobwhite colinus virginianus of
         the eastern states; the plumed, or mountain, partridge
         oreortyx pictus of california; the massena
         partridge cyrtonyx montezumae; and the california
         partridge callipepla californica.
         1913 webster

   3. the ruffed grouse bonasa umbellus. new eng.
      1913 webster

   bamboo partridge zool., a spurred partridge of the genus
      bambusicola. several species are found in china and the
      east indies.

   night partridge zool., the woodcock. local, u.s.

   painted partridge zool., a francolin of south africa
      francolinus pictus.

   partridge berry. bot.
      a the scarlet berry of a trailing american plant
          mitchella repens of the order rubiaceae,
          having roundish evergreen leaves, and white fragrant
          flowers sometimes tinged with purple, growing in pairs
          with the ovaries united, and producing the berries
          which remain over winter; also, the plant itself.
      b the fruit of the creeping wintergreen gaultheria
          procumbens; also, the plant itself.

   partridge dove zool. same as mountain witch, under
      mountain.

   partridge pea bot., a yellow-flowered leguminous herb
      cassia chamaecrista, common in sandy fields in the
      eastern united states.

   partridge shell zool., a large marine univalve shell
      dolium perdix, having colors variegated like those of
      the partridge.

   partridge wood
      a a variegated wood, much esteemed for cabinetwork. it
          is obtained from tropical america, and one source of
          it is said to be the leguminous tree andira inermis.
          called also pheasant wood.
      b a name sometimes given to the dark-colored and
          striated wood of some kind of palm, which is used for
          walking sticks and umbrella handles.

   sea partridge zool., an asiatic sand partridge
      ammoperdix bonhami; -- so called from its note.

   snow partridge zool., a large spurred partridge lerwa
      nivicola which inhabits the high mountains of asia;
      called also jermoonal.

   spruce partridge. see under spruce.

   wood partridge, or hill partridge zool., any small
      asiatic partridge of the genus arboricola.
      1913 webster
see also:
perdix perdicidae perdix cinerea caccabis rubra colinus colinus virginianus 
oreortyx pictus cyrtonyx montezumae callipepla californica bonasa umbellus bamboo partridge 
bambusicola night partridge painted partridge francolinus pictus partridge berry 
mitchella repens rubiaceae gaultheria procumbens partridge dove mountain witch 
mountain partridge pea cassia chamaecrista partridge shell dolium perdix 
partridge wood andira inermis pheasant wood sea partridge ammoperdix bonhami 
snow partridge lerwa nivicola jermoonal spruce partridge spruce 
wood partridge hill partridge arboricola 

ruffed \ruffed\, a.
   furnished with a ruff.
   1913 webster

   ruffed grouse zool., a north american grouse bonasa
      umbellus common in the wooded districts of the northern
      united states. the male has a ruff of brown or black
      feathers on each side of the neck, and is noted for the
      loud drumming sound he makes during the breeding season.
      called also tippet grouse, partridge, birch
      partridge, pheasant, drummer, and white-flesher.

   ruffed lemur zool., a species of lemur lemur varius
      having a conspicuous ruff on the sides of the head. its
      color is varied with black and white. called also ruffed
      maucaco.
      1913 webster
see also:
ruffed grouse bonasa umbellus tippet grouse partridge birch partridge pheasant 
drummer white-flesher ruffed lemur lemur varius ruffed maucaco 

bonasa umbellus
     n : valued as a game bird in eastern united states and canada
         syn: ruffed grouse, partridge
see also:
ruffed grouse partridge