Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large, long-tailed game bird: A pheasant is a type of large, colorful bird with a long tail, native to Asia but introduced to many other parts of the world. It is often hunted for sport or food.
   • The meat of this bird: Pheasant also refers to the flesh of this bird, considered a type of game meat.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Bird):
  • We saw a beautiful ring-necked pheasant in the field.
  • Pheasants are known for their striking plumage and distinctive call.
• Noun (Meat):
  • For dinner, we had roast pheasant with a berry sauce.
  • Pheasant is considered a delicacy in many restaurants.

Advanced Usage

• "Pheasant under glass": A classic, elaborate dish where pheasant is cooked and served under a glass cover.
  • The restaurant's signature dish is pheasant under glass.
• "Pheasant shooting": Refers to the sport of hunting pheasants.
  • The estate is famous for its organized pheasant shoots.

Variants and Related Words

• Pheasantry (n): A place where pheasants are bred and reared.
  • He manages a pheasantry that supplies birds for local shoots.
• Pheasant's eye (n): This is a separate term for a type of flowering plant (Adonis annua), not directly related to the bird but sharing part of the name.

Synonyms

• Game bird: A general term for birds hunted for sport or food, which includes pheasants, grouse, and partridges.
• Fowl: A more general term for birds, especially those used as food.

Related Phrases

• "Like a startled pheasant": An idiom describing someone who moves or reacts suddenly and nervously.
  • She jumped up from her seat like a startled pheasant when she heard the noise.

Noun

1. flesh of a pheasant; usually braised
2. large long-tailed gallinaceous bird native to the Old World but introduced elsewhere