{common, or English, {pheasant} ({Phasianus Colchicus}) is
now found over most of temperate Europe, but was
introduced from Asia. The
{ring-necked pheasant} ({P. torquatus}) and the
{green pheasant} ({P. versicolor}) have been introduced into
Oregon. The
{golden pheasant} ({Thaumalea picta}) is one of the most
beautiful species. The
{silver pheasant} ({Euplocamus nychthemerus}) of China, and
several related species from Southern Asia, are very
beautiful.
2. (Zo["o]l.) The ruffed grouse. [Southern U.S.]
Note: Various other birds are locally called pheasants, as
the lyre bird, the leipoa, etc.
{Fireback pheasant}. See {Fireback}.
{Gold}, or {Golden}, {pheasant} (Zo["o]l.), a Chinese
pheasant ({Thaumalea picta}), having rich, varied colors.
The crest is amber-colored, the rump is golden yellow, and
the under parts are scarlet.
{Mountain pheasant} (Zo["o]l.), the ruffed grouse. [Local,
U.S.]
{Pheasant coucal} (Zo["o]l.), a large Australian cuckoo
({Centropus phasianus}). The general color is black, with
chestnut wings and brown tail. Called also {pheasant
cuckoo}. The name is also applied to other allied species.
{Pheasant duck}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) The pintail.
(b) The hooded merganser.
{Pheasant parrot} (Zo["o]l.), a large and beautiful
Australian parrakeet ({Platycercus Adelaidensis}). The
male has the back black, the feathers margined with
yellowish blue and scarlet, the quills deep blue, the wing
coverts and cheeks light blue, the crown, sides of the
neck, breast, and middle of the belly scarlet.
{Pheasant's eye}. (Bot.)
(a) A red-flowered herb ({Adonis autumnalis}) of the
Crowfoot family; -- called also {pheasant's-eye
Adonis}.
(b) The garden pink ({Dianthus plumarius}); -- called also
{Pheasant's-eye pink}.
{Pheasant shell} (Zo["o]l.), any marine univalve shell of the
genus {Phasianella}, of which numerous species are found
in tropical seas. The shell is smooth and usually richly
colored, the colors often forming blotches like those of a
pheasant.
{Pheasant wood}. (Bot.) Same as {Partridge wood}
(a), under {Partridge}.
{Sea pheasant} (Zo["o]l.), the pintail.
{Water pheasant}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) The sheldrake.
(b) The hooded merganser.
2. Having the color of gold; as, the golden grain.
3. Very precious; highly valuable; excellent; eminently
auspicious; as, golden opinions.
{Golden age}.
(a) The fabulous age of primeval simplicity and purity of
manners in rural employments, followed by the silver,
bronze, and iron ages. --Dryden.
(b) (Roman Literature) The best part (B. C. 81 -- A. D.
14) of the classical period of Latinity; the time when
Cicero, C[ae]sar, Virgil, etc., wrote. Hence:
(c) That period in the history of a literature, etc., when
it flourishes in its greatest purity or attains its
greatest glory; as, the Elizabethan age has been
considered the golden age of English literature.
{Golden balls}, three gilt balls used as a sign of a
pawnbroker's office or shop; -- originally taken from the
coat of arms of Lombardy, the first money lenders in
London having been Lombards.
{Golden bull}. See under {Bull}, an edict.
{Golden chain} (Bot.), the shrub {Cytisus Laburnum}, so named
from its long clusters of yellow blossoms.
{Golden club} (Bot.), an aquatic plant ({Orontium
aquaticum}), bearing a thick spike of minute yellow
flowers.
{Golden cup} (Bot.), the buttercup.
{Golden eagle} (Zo["o]l.), a large and powerful eagle
({Aquila Chrysa["e]tos}) inhabiting Europe, Asia, and
North America. It is so called from the brownish yellow
tips of the feathers on the head and neck. A dark variety
is called the {royal eagle}; the young in the second year
is the {ring-tailed eagle}.
{Golden fleece}.
(a) (Mythol.) The fleece of gold fabled to have been taken
from the ram that bore Phryxus through the air to
Colchis, and in quest of which Jason undertook the
Argonautic expedition.
(b) (Her.) An order of knighthood instituted in 1429 by
Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy; -- called also
{Toison d'Or}.
{Golden grease}, a bribe; a fee. [Slang]
{Golden hair} (Bot.), a South African shrubby composite plant
with golden yellow flowers, the {Chrysocoma Coma-aurea}.
{Golden Horde} (Hist.), a tribe of Mongolian Tartars who
overran and settled in Southern Russia early in the 18th
century.
{Golden Legend}, a hagiology (the ``Aurea Legenda'') written
by James de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa, in the 13th
century, translated and printed by Caxton in 1483, and
partially paraphrased by Longfellow in a poem thus
entitled.
{Golden marcasite} tin. [Obs.]
{Golden mean}, the way of wisdom and safety between extremes;
sufficiency without excess; moderation.
Angels guard him in the golden mean. --Pope.
{Golden mole} (Zo["o]l), one of several South African
Insectivora of the family {Chrysochlorid[ae]}, resembling
moles in form and habits. The fur is tinted with green,
purple, and gold.
{Golden number} (Chronol.), a number showing the year of the
lunar or Metonic cycle. It is reckoned from 1 to 19, and
is so called from having formerly been written in the
calendar in gold.
{Golden oriole}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Oriole}.
{Golden pheasant}. See under {Pheasant}.
{Golden pippin}, a kind of apple, of a bright yellow color.
{Golden plover} (Zo["o]l.), one of several species of
plovers, of the genus {Charadrius}, esp. the European ({C.
apricarius, or pluvialis}; -- called also {yellow,
black-breasted, hill, & whistling, plover}. The common
American species ({C. dominicus}) is also called
{frostbird}, and {bullhead}.
{Golden robin}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Baltimore oriole}, in Vocab.
{Golden rose} (R. C. Ch.), a gold or gilded rose blessed by
the pope on the fourth Sunday in Lent, and sent to some
church or person in recognition of special services
rendered to the Holy See.
{Golden rule}.
(a) The rule of doing as we would have others do to us.
Cf. --Luke vi. 31.
(b) The rule of proportion, or rule of three.
{Golden samphire} (Bot.), a composite plant ({Inula
crithmoides}), found on the seashore of Europe.
{Golden saxifrage} (Bot.), a low herb with yellow flowers
({Chrysosplenium oppositifolium}), blossoming in wet
places in early spring.
{Golden seal} (Bot.), a perennial ranunculaceous herb
({Hydrastis Canadensis}), with a thick knotted rootstock
and large rounded leaves.
{Golden sulphide, or sulphuret}, {of antimony} (Chem.), the
pentasulphide of antimony, a golden or orange yellow
powder.
{Golden warbler} (Zo["o]l.), a common American wood warbler
({Dendroica [ae]stiva}); -- called also {blue-eyed yellow
warbler}, {garden warbler}, and {summer yellow bird}.
{Golden wasp} (Zo["o]l.), a bright-colored hymenopterous
insect, of the family {Chrysidid[ae]}. The colors are
golden, blue, and green.
{Golden wedding}. See under {Wedding}.