From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
perch \perch\ (p[~e]rch), n. [Written also pearch.] [OE.
perche, F. perche, L. perca, fr. Gr. pe`rkh; cf. perkno`s
dark-colored, Skr. p[.r][,c]ni spotted, speckled, and E.
freckle.] (Zool.)
1. Any fresh-water fish of the genus Perca and of several
other allied genera of the family Percid[ae], as the
common American or yellow perch (Perca flavescens syn.
Perca Americana), and the European perch (Perca
fluviatilis).
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2. Any one of numerous species of spiny-finned fishes
belonging to the Percid[ae], Serranid[ae], and related
families, and resembling, more or less, the true perches.
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Black perch.
(a) The black bass.
(b) The flasher.
(c) The sea bass.
Blue perch, the cunner.
Gray perch, the fresh-water drum.
Red perch, the rosefish.
Red-bellied perch, the long-eared pondfish.
Perch pest, a small crustacean, parasitic in the mouth of
the perch.
Silver perch, the yellowtail.
Stone perch, or Striped perch, the pope.
White perch, the Roccus Americanus, or Morone
Americanus, a small silvery serranoid market fish of the
Atlantic coast.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Perch \Perch\ (p[~e]rch), n. [F. perche, L. pertica.]
1. 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.
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As chauntecleer among his wives all
Sat on his perche, that was in his hall. --Chaucer.
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Not making his high place the lawless perch
Of winged ambitions. --Tennyson.
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2.
(a) A measure of length containing five and a half yards;
a rod, or pole.
(b) In land or square measure: A square rod; the 160th
part of an acre.
(c) In solid measure: A mass 161/2 feet long, 1 foot in
height, and 11/2 feet in breadth, or 243/4 cubic feet
(in local use, from 22 to 25 cubic feet); -- used in
measuring stonework.
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3. A pole connecting the fore gear and hind gear of a spring
carriage; a reach.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Perch \Perch\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perched (p[~e]rcht); p. pr.
& vb. n. Perching.] [F. percher. See Perch a pole.]
To alight or settle, as a bird; to sit or roost.
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Wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch. --Shak.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Perch \Perch\, v. t.
1. To place or to set on, or as on, a perch.
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2. To occupy as a perch. --Milton.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Sprat \Sprat\ (spr[a^]t), n. [OE. sprot, sprotte, D. sprot; akin
to G. sprotte.] (Zool.)
(a) A small European herring (Clupea sprattus) closely
allied to the common herring and the pilchard; -- called
also garvie. The name is also applied to small herring
of different kinds.
(b) A California surf-fish (Rhacochilus toxotes); -- called
also alfione, and perch.
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Sprat borer (Zool.), the red-throated diver; -- so called
from its fondness for sprats. See Diver.
Sprat loon. (Zool.)
(a) The young of the great northern diver. [Prov. Eng.]
(b) The red-throated diver. See Diver.
Sprat mew (Zool.), the kittiwake gull.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Rod \Rod\, n. [The same word as rood. See Rood.]
1. A straight and slender stick; a wand; hence, any slender
bar, as of wood or metal (applied to various purposes).
Specifically:
(a) An instrument of punishment or correction;
figuratively, chastisement.
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He that spareth his rod hateth his son. --Prov.
xiii. 24.
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(b) A kind of sceptor, or badge of office; hence,
figuratively, power; authority; tyranny; oppression.
"The rod, and bird of peace." --Shak.
(c) A support for a fishing line; a fish pole. --Gay.
(d) (Mach. & Structure) A member used in tension, as for
sustaining a suspended weight, or in tension and
compression, as for transmitting reciprocating motion,
etc.; a connecting bar.
(e) An instrument for measuring.
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2. A measure of length containing sixteen and a half feet; --
called also perch, and pole.
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Black rod. See in the Vocabulary.
Rods and cones (Anat.), the elongated cells or elements of
the sensory layer of the retina, some of which are
cylindrical, others somewhat conical.
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