spruce partridge

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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Spruce \Spruce\ (spr[udd]s), n. [OE. Spruce or Pruse, Prussia,
   Prussian. So named because it was first known as a native of
   Prussia, or because its sprouts were used for making, spruce
   beer. Cf. Spruce beer, below, {Spruce}, a.]
   1. (Bot.) Any coniferous tree of the genus {Picea}, as the
      Norway spruce ({Picea excelsa}), and the white and black
      spruces of America ({Picea alba} and {Picea nigra}),
      besides several others in the far Northwest. See {Picea}.
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   2. The wood or timber of the spruce tree.
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   3. Prussia leather; pruce. [Obs.]
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            Spruce, a sort of leather corruptly so called for
            Prussia leather.                      --E. Phillips.
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   {Douglas spruce} (Bot.), a valuable timber tree ({Pseudotsuga
      Douglasii}) of Northwestern America.

   {Essence of spruce}, a thick, dark-colored, bitterish, and
      acidulous liquid made by evaporating a decoction of the
      young branches of spruce.

   {Hemlock spruce} (Bot.), a graceful coniferous tree ({Tsuga
      Canadensis}) of North America. Its timber is valuable, and
      the bark is largely used in tanning leather.

   {Spruce beer}. [G. sprossenbier; sprosse sprout, shoot (akin
      to E. sprout, n.) + bier beer. The word was changed into
      spruce beer because the beer came from Prussia (OE.
      Spruce), or because it was made from the sprouts of the
      spruce. See {Sprout}, n., {Beer}, and cf. {Spruce}, n.] A
      kind of beer which is tinctured or flavored with spruce,
      either by means of the extract or by decoction.

   {Spruce grouse}. (Zool.) Same as {Spruce partridge}, below.
      

   {Spruce leather}. See {Spruce}, n., 3.

   {Spruce partridge} (Zool.), a handsome American grouse
      ({Dendragapus Canadensis}) found in Canada and the
      Northern United States; -- called also {Canada grouse}.
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