noun.
Any of various grouse of the genus Lagopus, inhabiting arctic, subarctic, and alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere and having feathered legs and feet and plumage that is brown or gray in summer and white in winter.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
noun.
A bird of the family Tetraonidæ and genus Lagopus, having feathered feet.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
noun.
Any grouse of the genus Lagopus, of which numerous species are known. The feet are completely feathered. Most of the species are brown in summer, but turn white, or nearly white, in winter.