perch
UK /pɜːtʃ/ · US /pɝt͡ʃ/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms perches perching perched
- noun Any of the three species of spiny-finned freshwater fish in the genus Perca.
- noun (South Africa) Acanthopagrus berda
- noun (Ghana) Distichodus engycephalus, Distichodus rostratus
- noun (Australia) Johnius belangerii, Macquaria ambigua, Macquaria colonorum, Macquaria novemaculeata, Nemadactylus macropterus
- noun (US) Kyphosus azureus
- noun (UK) Lateolabrax japonicus, Tautogolabrus adspersus
- noun Several similar species in the order Perciformes, such as the grouper.
- noun A rod, staff, tree branch, ledge, etc., used as a roost by a bird.
- noun A pole connecting the fore gear and hind gear of a spring carriage; a reach.
- noun (figuratively) A position that is secure and advantageous, especially one which is prominent or elevated.
- noun (figuratively) A position that is overly elevated or haughty.
- noun (dated) A linear measure of 5+¹⁄₂ yards, equal to a rod, a pole or ¹⁄₄ chain; the related square measure.
- noun A cubic measure of stonework equal to 16.6 × 1.5 × 1 feet.
- noun (textiles) A frame used to examine cloth.
- noun A bar used to support a candle, especially in a church.
- verb (intransitive) To rest on a perch (especially, of a bird); to roost. “The macaw perched on Jim's shoulder.”
- verb (intransitive) To sit upon the edge of something.
- verb (intransitive) To stay in an elevated position.
- verb (transitive) To place something on (or as if on) a perch.
- verb (transitive, intransitive, textiles) To inspect cloth using a perch.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English perche, from Old French perche, from Latin perca, from Ancient Greek πέρκη (pérkē, “perch”), cognate with περκνός (perknós, “dark-spotted”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *perḱ-, whence also Old English forn (“trout”), German Forelle (“trout”).
From Middle English perche, from Old French perche, from Latin pertica (“staff, long pole, measuring rod”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun Any fresh-water fish of the genus Perca and of several other allied genera of the family Percidæ, as the common American or yellow perch (Perca flavescens, or Americana), and the European perch (P. fluviatilis).
- noun Any one of numerous species of spiny-finned fishes belonging to the Percidæ, Serranidæ, and related families, and resembling, more or less, the true perches. Black perch. (a) The black bass. (b) The flasher. (c) The sea bass.
- noun A pole; a long staff; a rod; esp., a pole or other support for fowls to roost on or to rest on; a roost; figuratively, any elevated resting place or seat.
- noun A pole connecting the fore gear and hind gear of a spring carriage; a reach.
Etymology [OE. perche, F. perche, L. perca, fr. Gr. p spotted, speckled, and E. freckle.]
Etymology [F. perche, L. pertica.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “perch”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details