catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Prairie \Prai"rie\, n. [F., an extensive meadow, OF. praerie,
     LL. prataria, fr. L. pratum a meadow.]
     1. An extensive tract of level or rolling land, destitute of
        trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually
        characterized by a deep, fertile soil. They abound
        throughout the Mississippi valley, between the Alleghanies
        and the Rocky mountains.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              From the forests and the prairies,
              From the great lakes of the northland. --Longfellow.
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     2. A meadow or tract of grass; especially, a so called
        natural meadow.
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     Prairie chicken (Zo["o]l.), any American grouse of the
        genus Tympanuchus, especially Tympanuchus Americanus
        (formerly Tympanuchus cupido), which inhabits the
        prairies of the central United States. Applied also to the
        sharp-tailed grouse.
  
     Prairie clover (Bot.), any plant of the leguminous genus
        Petalostemon, having small rosy or white flowers in
        dense terminal heads or spikes. Several species occur in
        the prairies of the United States.
  
     Prairie dock (Bot.), a coarse composite plant ({Silphium
        terebinthaceum) with large rough leaves and yellow
        flowers, found in the Western prairies.
  
     Prairie dog (Zo["o]l.), a small American rodent ({Cynomys
        Ludovicianus) allied to the marmots. It inhabits the
        plains west of the Mississippi. The prairie dogs burrow in
        the ground in large warrens, and have a sharp bark like
        that of a dog. Called also prairie marmot.
  
     Prairie grouse. Same as Prairie chicken, above.
  
     Prairie hare (Zo["o]l.), a large long-eared Western hare
        ({Lepus campestris). See Jack rabbit, under 2d Jack.
        
  
     Prairie hawk, Prairie falcon (Zo["o]l.), a falcon of
        Western North America ({Falco Mexicanus). The upper parts
        are brown. The tail has transverse bands of white; the
        under parts, longitudinal streaks and spots of brown.
  
     Prairie hen. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Prairie chicken, above.
        
  
     Prairie itch (Med.), an affection of the skin attended with
        intense itching, which is observed in the Northern and
        Western United States; -- also called swamp itch,
        winter itch.
  
     Prairie marmot. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Prairie dog, above.
  
     Prairie mole (Zo["o]l.), a large American mole ({Scalops
        argentatus), native of the Western prairies.
  
     Prairie pigeon, Prairie plover, or Prairie snipe
        (Zo["o]l.), the upland plover. See Plover, n., 2.
  
     Prairie rattlesnake (Zo["o]l.), the massasauga.
  
     Prairie snake (Zo["o]l.), a large harmless American snake
        ({Masticophis flavigularis). It is pale yellow, tinged
        with brown above.
  
     Prairie squirrel (Zo["o]l.), any American ground squirrel
        of the genus Spermophilus, inhabiting prairies; --
        called also gopher.
  
     Prairie turnip (Bot.), the edible turnip-shaped farinaceous
        root of a leguminous plant ({Psoralea esculenta) of the
        Upper Missouri region; also, the plant itself. Called also
        pomme blanche, and pomme de prairie.
  
     Prairie warbler (Zo["o]l.), a bright-colored American
        warbler ({Dendroica discolor). The back is olive yellow,
        with a group of reddish spots in the middle; the under
        parts and the parts around the eyes are bright yellow; the
        sides of the throat and spots along the sides, black;
        three outer tail feathers partly white.
  
     Prairie wolf. (Zo["o]l.) See Coyote.
        [1913 Webster]

  Upland \Up"land\, a.
     1. Of or pertaining to uplands; being on upland; high in
        situation; as, upland inhabitants; upland pasturage.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Sometimes, with secure delight
              The upland hamlets will invite.       --Milton.
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     2. Pertaining to the country, as distinguished from the
        neighborhood of towns; rustic; rude; unpolished. [Obs.W2]
        `` The race of upland giants.'' --Chapman.
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     Upland moccasin. (Zo["o]l.) See Moccasin.
  
     Upland sandpiper, or Upland plover (Zo["o]l.), a large
        American sandpiper ({Bartramia longicauda) much valued as
        a game bird. Unlike most sandpipers, it frequents fields
        and uplands. Called also Bartramian sandpiper,
        Bartram's tattler, field plover, grass plover,
        highland plover, hillbird, humility, prairie
        plover, prairie pigeon, prairie snipe, papabote,
        quaily, and uplander.
  
     Upland sumach (Bot.), a North American shrub of the genus
        Rhus ({Rhus glabra), used in tanning and dyeing.
        [1913 Webster]

  Upland \Up"land\, a.
     1. Of or pertaining to uplands; being on upland; high in
        situation; as, upland inhabitants; upland pasturage.
  
              Sometimes, with secure delight The upland hamlets
              will invite.                          --Milton.
  
     2. Pertaining to the country, as distinguished from the
        neighborhood of towns; rustic; rude; unpolished. [Obs.] ``
        The race of upland giants.'' --Chapman.
  
     Upland moccasin. (Zo["o]l.) See Moccasin.
  
     Upland sandpiper, or Upland plover (Zo["o]l.), a large
        American sandpiper ({Bartramia longicauda) much valued as
        a game bird. Unlike most sandpipers, it frequents fields
        and uplands. Called also Bartramian sandpiper,
        Bartram's tattler, field plover, grass plover,
        highland plover, hillbird, humility, prairie
        plover, prairie pigeon, prairie snipe, papabote,
        quaily, and uplander.
  
     Upland sumach (Bot.), a North American shrub of the genus
        Rhus ({Rhus glabra), used in tanning and dyeing.