Definition of: pheasant

(fez′ənt) noun
1. A long-tailed gallinaceous bird of Phasianus or related genus, noted for the gorgeous plumage of the male: native to Asia, but long semi-domesticated elsewhere and bred in game preserves.
2. One of various other birds, as the ruffed grouse. [<AF fesant <L Phasianus <Gk. Phasianos (ornis) the Phasian (bird) <Phasis the Phasis, a river in the Caucasus, where it was first found]