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Perch
Definitions
- 1 A surname.
- 2 a type of freshwater fish
- 1 Any of the three species of spiny-finned freshwater fish in the genus Perca.
- 2 A rod, staff, tree branch, ledge, etc., used as a roost by a bird.
"We know him now: […] / Not making his high place the lawless perch / Of wing'd ambitions, nor a vantage-ground / For pleasure; […]"
- 3 any of numerous spiny-finned fishes of various families of the order Perciformes wordnet
- 4 Any of the about 200 related species of fish in the taxonomic family Percidae, especially:; Acanthopagrus berda South-Africa
- 5 A pole connecting the fore gear and hind gear of a spring carriage; a reach.
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- 6 spiny-finned freshwater food and game fishes wordnet
- 7 Any of the about 200 related species of fish in the taxonomic family Percidae, especially:; Distichodus engycephalus, Distichodus rostratus
- 8 A position that is secure and advantageous, especially one which is prominent or elevated. figuratively
"Last year, Eighth Grade found poignancy and humor in its eponymous time period: that purgatorial perch between childhood and adulthood."
- 9 support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird) wordnet
- 10 Any of the about 200 related species of fish in the taxonomic family Percidae, especially:; Johnius belangerii, Macquaria ambigua, Macquaria colonorum, Macquaria novemaculeata, Nemadactylus macropterus Australia
- 11 A position that is overly elevated or haughty. figuratively
"You may thanke me, (Lady) / I haue taken you off your mellancholly pearch, / Boare you vpon my fiſt, and ſhew'd you game, / And let you flie at it: I pray the kiſſe me, […]"
- 12 any of numerous fishes of America and Europe wordnet
- 13 Any of the about 200 related species of fish in the taxonomic family Percidae, especially:; Kyphosus azureus US
- 14 A linear measure of 5+¹⁄₂ yards, equal to a rod, a pole or ¹⁄₄ chain; the related square measure. dated
"The whole surface of the country is divided into irregular patches, following the undulations of the ground, from many acres to a few perches in extent, each of which is itself perfectly level, but stands a few inches or several feet above or below those adjacent to it."
- 15 an elevated place serving as a seat wordnet
- 16 Any of the about 200 related species of fish in the taxonomic family Percidae, especially:; Lateolabrax japonicus, Tautogolabrus adspersus UK
- 17 A cubic measure of stonework equal to 16.6 × 1.5 × 1 feet.
- 18 a square rod of land wordnet
- 19 Several similar species in the order Perciformes, such as the grouper.
- 20 A frame used to examine cloth.
- 21 a linear measure of 16.5 feet wordnet
- 22 A bar used to support a candle, especially in a church.
- 23 A platform for lights to be directed at the stage.
- 1 To rest on a perch (especially, of a bird); to roost. intransitive
"The macaw perched on Jim's shoulder."
- 2 sit, as on a branch wordnet
- 3 To sit upon the edge of something. intransitive
"The platform was already crowded, but the newcomers threaded their way to the front amid a decorous murmur of welcome. Mr. Peeble shoved and exhorted and two end seats emerged upon which Enid and Malone perched themselves."
- 4 cause to perch or sit wordnet
- 5 To stay in an elevated position. intransitive
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- 6 to come to rest, settle wordnet
- 7 To place something on (or as if on) a perch. transitive
"The most obvious beneficiary of the visitors' superiority was Frank Lampard. By the end of the night he was perched 13th in the list of England's most prolific goalscorers, having leapfrogged Sir Geoff Hurst to score his 24th and 25th international goals. No other player has managed more than the Chelsea midfielder's 11 in World Cup qualification ties, with this a display to roll back the years."
- 8 To inspect cloth using a perch. intransitive, transitive
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”).
From Middle English perche, from Old French perche, from Latin pertica (“staff, long pole, measuring rod”).
See also for "perch"
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