pheasant

noun pheas·ant \ ˈfe-zᵊnt \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Definition of pheasant

plural pheasant or pheasants

1 : 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

2 : any of various birds resembling a pheasant

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Recent Examples of pheasant from the Web

Construction crews had just finished one of two new pens for agriculture students’ hens, geese and pheasants Wednesday evening, fortified with strong fencing.

— shelby webb, Houston Chronicle, "Dog attack leaves more than 100 birds dead at Furr HS agriculture pen," 31 May 2018
Double fly nymph rigs have been very effective (my current favorite is a bead head pheasant tail (#14) with a ruby midge (#18) suspended below it.

— tyler mahoney special to the star, kansascity, "Fishing report: Catfish action picking up in Kansas, Missouri lakes," 11 July 2018
To get started using his dog for shed hunting, Moore relied heavily on his experience training dogs for pheasant hunting.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Deer dogs increase shed hunting fun and success," 17 Mar. 2018
From eucalyptus trees to ring-necked pheasants and zebra mussels, introduced species often compete with native flora and fauna for habitat and food.

— ursula k. heise, WIRED, "Endangered Species and the Case for ‘Sanctuary Cities’," 10 June 2018
In addition to typical farm animals like horses and goats, there is also a dedicated room for pigeons plus an enclosure for three peacocks and two different kinds of pheasants.

— candace taylor, WSJ, "A Connecticut Estate With Animal Menagerie Seeks $13.75 Million," 4 May 2018
Shooting from the Passing Lane On April 15, a Dallam/Hartley County game warden received a call about someone in a vehicle shooting at pheasants from a county road.

— community report community report, Houston Chronicle, "Game warden field notes," 1 May 2018
Now, analysis of the creature’s forelimb bones finds that their structure closely resembles that of wing bones in today’s quails and pheasants, species that can fly for short bursts.

— National Geographic, "This Famous Dinosaur Could Fly—But Unlike Anything Alive Today," 13 Mar. 2018
The restaurant has stuffed pheasant on the wall, not the menu.

— jennifer mcclellan, azcentral, "4 things you should know before heading to the new Twin Peaks restaurant in Glendale," 7 June 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of pheasant

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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PHEASANT Defined for English Language Learners

pheasant

noun

Definition of pheasant for English Language Learners

: a large bird that has a long tail and is often hunted for food or sport
: the meat of the pheasant eaten as food

PHEASANT Defined for Kids

pheasant

noun pheas·ant \ ˈfe-zᵊnt \

Definition of pheasant for Students

: a large brightly colored bird with a long tail that is related to the chicken and is sometimes hunted for food or sport

Learn More about pheasant

See words that rhyme with pheasant Spanish Central: Translation of pheasant Nglish: Translation of pheasant for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pheasant

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pheasant

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