Phēas'ant, n.

noun

(fēz'ant), n. [O. Eng. fesant, fesauant, O. Fr. phaisan, N. Fr. faisan, Pr. faisan, fayhan, Sp. faisan, faysan, It. fagiano, Lat. phasianus, Gr. φασιανός (sc. ὄρνις), the Phasian bird, pheasant, from φᾶσις, a river in Colchis or Pontus.] (Ornith.) A gallinaceous bird (Phasianus Colchicus), the flesh of which is valued as food. It is found wild in Europe.

☞ The term is also applied to all the allied birds of the old world, as the common fowl, the peacock, &c.

Gold pheasant, Phasianus pictus. — Male pheasant, a female bird which has acquired part of the plumage and the crowing voice of the cock. Hunter. — Silver pheasant, Phasianus (or Gennæus) nycthemerus.

An engraved gold pheasant with a long tail perched on a branch. — Gold Pheasant.