perch

The definition of a perch is a place for a person or animal to sit on or a freshwater fish.

(noun)

Perch is defined as to sit or rest in an elevated position.

(verb)

An example of perch is to sit up on the sill of a bay window.

See perch in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. perch or perches

any of a family (Percidae) of small, spiny-finned, freshwater, percoid food fishes of Europe and America; esp., a yellowish species (Perca flavescens) of North America
any of various other spiny-finned bony fishes, as the white perch and the surfperches

Origin: ME perche < OFr < L perca < Gr perkē < IE base *per-, speckled, colorful > Ger farbe, color, OE forn, trout

noun

a horizontal rod, pole, etc. provided as a roost for birds
anything, as a branch or wire, upon which a bird rests
any resting place, position, or vantage point, esp. a high or insecure one
1. a unit of linear measure equal to 5 yards (5.029 meters); rod
2. a unit of land measure equal to 30 square yards (25.3 square meters)
3. a cubic measure for stone, usually equal to 24 cubic feet (.70 cubic meters)
a pole connecting the front and rear axletrees of a wagon, carriage, etc.

Origin: ME perche < OFr < L pertica, a pole, staff

intransitive verb

to alight or rest on or as on a perch

Origin: Fr percher < OFr < the n.

transitive verb

to place or set on or as on a perch

See perch in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A rod or branch serving as a roost for a bird.
a. An elevated place for resting or sitting.
b. A position that is secure, advantageous, or prominent.
A pole, stick, or rod.
Chiefly British
a. A linear measure equal to 5.50 yards or 16.5 feet (5.03 meters); a rod.
b. One square rod of land.
A unit of cubic measure used in stonework, usually 16.5 feet by 1.0 foot by 1.5 feet, or 24.75 cubic feet (0.70 cubic meter).
A frame on which cloth is laid for examination of quality.

verb perched, perch·ing, perch·es

verb, intransitive

verb, transitive

To place on or as if on a perch: The child perched the glass on the edge of the counter.
To lay (cloth) on a perch in order to examine it.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English perche

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin pertica, stick, pole

noun pl. perch perch or perch·es

Any of various spiny-finned freshwater fishes of the genus Perca, especially either of two edible species, P. flavescens, of North America, and P. fluviatilis, of Europe.
Any of various similar or related fishes, such as the pike perch or the grouper.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English perche

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin perca

Origin: , from Greek perkē

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