perch

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To sit or rest on a high or narrow place, especially of a bird.

   A small bird perched on the edge of the fence.

2. 2
   noun

   A branch, bar, or other place where a bird rests.

   The parrot returned to its perch beside the window.

3. 3
   noun

   A high or advantageous position.

   From her perch on the hill she could see the whole valley.

Simplified etymology

Perch has two distinct origins. The word for a bird’s resting place comes through Middle English perch “pole, stick” from Old French perche and ultimately Latin; the same word formerly named a unit of length. The fish name came through Latin from Greek perkē, perhaps related to a word meaning “speckled.”

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *perḱ-der. Ancient Greek πέρκη (pérkē)der. Latin percader. Old French perchebor. Middle English perche English perch 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”).

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary