PTARMIGAN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ptarmigan mean? 

• PTARMIGAN (noun)
  The noun PTARMIGAN has 1 sense:

1. large Arctic and subarctic grouse with feathered feet and usually white winter plumage

  Familiarity information: PTARMIGAN used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PTARMIGAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Large Arctic and subarctic grouse with feathered feet and usually white winter plumage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("ptarmigan" is a kind of...):

grouse (popular game bird having a plump body and feathered legs and feet)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ptarmigan"):

Lagopus scoticus; moor-bird; moorbird; moorfowl; moorgame; red grouse (reddish-brown grouse of upland moors of Great Britain)

Holonyms ("ptarmigan" is a member of...):

genus Lagopus; Lagopus (ptarmigans)

 Context examples 

But he could not stop, for the mother ptarmigan was running on.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The ptarmigan dragged him out of the bush.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He could take a ptarmigan from its nest, kill a rabbit as it slept, and snap in mid air the little chipmunks fleeing a second too late for the trees.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

It was no uncommon thing now for him to stumble and fall; and stumbling once, he fell squarely into a ptarmigan nest.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

After a time, the ptarmigan ceased her struggling.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He exhausted the mother ptarmigan; but he exhausted himself.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The ptarmigan struggled against him, showering blows upon him with her free wing.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

That night is the end of February. I kill three ptarmigan with the woman's revolver, and we are made somewhat strong again.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Then he remembered, and, turning on the back- track, started for home, carrying the ptarmigan in his mouth.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

That night I get one ptarmigan, and we are very hungry.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)