Phā'si-ān'i-dæ, n. pl.

n. pl. [From Phasis, a river in Asia Minor.] (Ornith.) A family of birds belonging to the order Gallinæ, characterized by having the hind toe placed higher on the tarsus than the front ones, so that only the tip touches the ground. The peacocks belong to this family, but the pheasants are the typical species.

Baird.