Etymology

and a partridge in a pear tree

and a par·tridge in a pear tree

Today it means: Used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length. Full definition →

First used 20th c.
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The story

From the traditional Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” first published around 1780, in which earlier lines are repeated and added to with every succeeding line that is sung. The last round of one version of the song that is commonly sung today ends: “On the twelfth day of Christmas, / My true love sent to me / Twelve drummers drumming, / Eleven pipers piping, / Ten lords a-leaping, / Nine ladies dancing, / Eight maids a-milking, / Seven swans a-swimming, / Six geese a-laying, / Five golden rings, / Four calling birds, / Three French hens, / Two turtledoves / And a partridge in a pear tree.”

First known use, by meaning

  • from 20th c. Used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.