Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PART'RIDGE, n. [Fr. perdrix; It. pernice; Sp. perdiz; perdix; Gr. περδιξ; D. patrys; Ir. patrisg.]

A vague popular name of a considerable number of species of gallinaceous birds of the tetraonid tribe, some of which belong to the genus Perdix, some to Allagis, some to Ortyx, some to Tetrao, &c. Within small sections of country, even in New England, this name is differently and variously applied, so that is impossible to say to what bird it properly belongs.