snow partridge

Snow \Snow\, n. [OE. snow, snaw, AS. sn[=a]w; akin to D. sneeuw,
   OS. & OHG. sn[=e]o, G. schnee, Icel. sn[ae]r, snj[=o]r,
   snaj[=a]r, Sw. sn["o], Dan. snee, Goth. snaiws, Lith.
   sn["e]gas, Russ. snieg', Ir. & Gael. sneachd, W. nyf, L. nix,
   nivis, Gr. acc. ni`fa, also AS. sn[imac]wan to snow, G.
   schneien, OHG. sn[imac]wan, Lith. snigti, L. ningit it snows,
   Gr. ni`fei, Zend snizh to snow; cf. Skr. snih to be wet or
   sticky. [root]172.]
   1. Watery particles congealed into white or transparent
      crystals or flakes in the air, and falling to the earth,
      exhibiting a great variety of very beautiful and perfect
      forms.
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   Note: Snow is often used to form compounds, most of which are
         of obvious meaning; as, snow-capped, snow-clad,
         snow-cold, snow-crowned, snow-crust, snow-fed,
         snow-haired, snowlike, snow-mantled, snow-nodding,
         snow-wrought, and the like.
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   2. Fig.: Something white like snow, as the white color
      (argent) in heraldry; something which falls in, or as in,
      flakes.
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            The field of snow with eagle of black therein.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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   {Red snow}. See under {Red}.
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   {Snow bunting}. (Zool.) See {Snowbird}, 1.

   {Snow cock} (Zool.), the snow pheasant.

   {Snow flea} (Zool.), a small black leaping poduran
      ({Achorutes nivicola}) often found in winter on the snow
      in vast numbers.

   {Snow flood}, a flood from melted snow.

   {Snow flower} (Bot.), the fringe tree.

   {Snow fly}, or {Snow insect} (Zool.), any one of several
      species of neuropterous insects of the genus {Boreus}. The
      male has rudimentary wings; the female is wingless. These
      insects sometimes appear creeping and leaping on the snow
      in great numbers.

   {Snow gnat} (Zool.), any wingless dipterous insect of the
      genus {Chionea} found running on snow in winter.

   {Snow goose} (Zool.), any one of several species of arctic
      geese of the genus {Chen}. The common snow goose ({Chen
      hyperborea}), common in the Western United States in
      winter, is white, with the tips of the wings black and
      legs and bill red. Called also {white brant}, {wavey}, and
      {Texas goose}. The blue, or blue-winged, snow goose ({Chen
      coerulescens}) is varied with grayish brown and bluish
      gray, with the wing quills black and the head and upper
      part of the neck white. Called also {white head},
      {white-headed goose}, and {bald brant}.

   {Snow leopard} (Zool.), the ounce.

   {Snow line}, lowest limit of perpetual snow. In the Alps this
      is at an altitude of 9,000 feet, in the Andes, at the
      equator, 16,000 feet.

   {Snow mouse} (Zool.), a European vole ({Arvicola nivalis})
      which inhabits the Alps and other high mountains.

   {Snow pheasant} (Zool.), any one of several species of large,
      handsome gallinaceous birds of the genus {Tetraogallus},
      native of the lofty mountains of Asia. The Himalayn snow
      pheasant ({Tetraogallus Himalayensis}) in the best-known
      species. Called also {snow cock}, and {snow chukor}.

   {Snow partridge}. (Zool.) See under {Partridge}.

   {Snow pigeon} (Zool.), a pigeon ({Columba leuconota}) native
      of the Himalaya mountains. Its back, neck, and rump are
      white, the top of the head and the ear coverts are black.
      

   {Snow plant} (Bot.), a fleshy parasitic herb ({Sarcodes
      sanguinea}) growing in the coniferous forests of
      California. It is all of a bright red color, and is fabled
      to grow from the snow, through which it sometimes shoots
      up.
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Partridge \Par"tridge\ (p[aum]r"tr[i^]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 {Perdicid[ae]}, of the Old World. The partridge is
      noted as a game bird.
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            Full many a fat partrich had he in mew. --Chaucer.
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   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.
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   2. Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging
      to {Colinus}, and allied genera. [U.S.]
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   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 Montezum[ae]}); and the California
         partridge ({Callipepla Californica}).
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   3. The ruffed grouse ({Bonasa umbellus}). [New Eng.]
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   {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 {Rubiace[ae]},
          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 Cham[ae]crista}), 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}.
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