pheasant

noun

pheas·ant ˈfe-zᵊnt

plural pheasant or pheasants

: any of numerous large often long-tailed and brightly colored Old World gallinaceous birds (Phasianus and related genera of the family Phasianidae) including many raised as ornamental or game birds — compare ring-necked pheasant

: any of various birds resembling a pheasant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Two slices of ham form a neck, while a pheasant and a mallard stand in for a shoulder that leads us to sausage fingers.

Natasha Gural, Forbes, 24 June 2022 And wildlife, including the pheasant, began to disappear.

Wes Siler, Outside Online, 1 Apr. 2021 Teens sported Hollister’s seagull and Jack Wills’ pheasant on their chests as a point of pride.

Diyora Shadijanova, refinery29.com, 25 May 2022 Every pheasant on this continent is a result of human introduction.

Wes Siler, Outside Online, 1 Apr. 2021 Reptiles, insects, and birds -- like the golden pheasant (pictured) -- live there too.

Rebecca Cairns; Video By Hazel Pfeifer, CNN, 10 May 2022 They are followed by lamb tomahawk with mint sauce and celeriac, crispy pheasant with applesauce and cress salad.

Elaine Rewolinski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2022 Next, rising through this, savory and meaty notes suggest the beast within yet also carry a sweet tartness, suggesting roast pheasant with redcurrant jelly.

Karla Alindahao, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2021 Heavy-duty vehicles roll along in grim procession, every tire just barely avoiding a pheasant lying dead in the road.

Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pheasant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fesaunt, from Anglo-French fesant, faisan, from Latin phasianus, from Greek (ornis) phasianos, from phasianos of the Phasis River, from Phasis, river in Colchis

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of pheasant was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century