pheasant
pheasant Lexical Profile
pheasant Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large, long-tailed bird of the family Phasianidae, native to Asia but widely introduced across the world, often hunted as game or kept for its colorful plumage.
"As we walked through the autumn woods, a male pheasant suddenly burst from the underbrush with a loud whirring of wings."
The meat of a pheasant, eaten as food.
"The chef prepared a rich stew made with roasted pheasant, wild mushrooms, and root vegetables."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the birds collectively, especially in a sporting or hunting context, the plural is often left uninflected as 'pheasant' (e.g., 'a day of shooting pheasant').
• Rhymes for pheasant
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'fesant', via Old French 'faisan' and Latin 'phasianus', ultimately from Ancient Greek 'phasianos', meaning '(bird) of the river Phasis' in ancient Colchis (modern-day Georgia).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.