From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: 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}). [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: 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. [1913 Webster] Wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch. --Shak. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Perch \Perch\, v. t. 1. To place or to set on, or as on, a perch. [1913 Webster] 2. To occupy as a perch. --Milton. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: 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. [1913 Webster] As chauntecleer among his wives all Sat on his perche, that was in his hall. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Not making his high place the lawless perch Of winged ambitions. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 3. A pole connecting the fore gear and hind gear of a spring carriage; a reach. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: 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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: 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. [1913 Webster] He that spareth his rod hateth his son. --Prov. xiii. 24. [1913 Webster] (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. [1913 Webster] 2. A measure of length containing sixteen and a half feet; -- called also perch, and pole. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: perch n 1: support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird) 2: a linear measure of 16.5 feet [syn: perch, rod, pole] 3: a square rod of land [syn: perch, rod, pole] 4: an elevated place serving as a seat 5: any of numerous fishes of America and Europe 6: spiny-finned freshwater food and game fishes 7: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes of various families of the order Perciformes v 1: sit, as on a branch; "The birds perched high in the tree" [syn: perch, roost, rest] 2: to come to rest, settle; "Misfortune lighted upon him" [syn: alight, light, perch] 3: cause to perch or sit; "She perched her hat on her head"