Word
perch
US/ˈpɝtʃ/
UK/pˈɜːtʃ/
Definitions
01a type of fish
n. a common freshwater fish that people often catch for food.
n. any of various spiny-finned freshwater fish, particularly those belonging to the genus Perca.
“The fisherman caught a large perch in the lake behind his house.”
“Yellow perch are highly valued by anglers in the Great Lakes region for both their sporting qualities and their flavor.”
02a bird's resting place
n. a branch or bar where a bird sits or sleeps.
n. a rod, branch, or ledge used by a bird for roosting or resting.
“The parrot returned to its wooden perch inside the cage.”
“The eagle scanned the valley from its rocky perch high above the tree line.”
04theatre lighting
n. a high platform or bar used to hold lights for a stage performance.
n. a platform or horizontal bar positioned at the side of a stage to support lighting equipment.
“The technician climbed up to the perch to adjust the spotlight.”
“The lighting designer requested additional lanterns on the side perches to create a more dramatic silhouette for the lead actor.”
Technical
05to sit on the edge
v. to sit or balance on the edge of something high or narrow.
v. to rest or settle on a high or precarious spot; often used intransitively.
“She perched on the edge of the stool, ready to leave at any moment.”
“A small village perched precariously on the cliffside, overlooking the crashing waves of the Atlantic.”
Real-World Examples
“A marmot perches itself on a rock in Yellowstone.” Etymology
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”).
From Middle English perche, from Old French perche, from Latin pertica (“staff, long pole, measuring rod”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
fall off one's perch — To die.
knock someone off their perch — To defeat or overcome someone who was in a dominant position.