perch

Etymology 1

From Middle English perche, from Old French perche, from Latin perca, from Ancient Greek πέρκη (pérkē, “perch”), cognate with περκνός (perknós, “dark-spotted”).

noun

1. Any of the three species of spiny-finned freshwater fish in the genus Perca.
2. Any of the about 200 related species of fish in the taxonomic family Percidae, especially:
   1. (South Africa) Acanthopagrus berda
   2. (Ghana) Distichodus engycephalus, Distichodus rostratus
   3. (Australia) Johnius belangerii, Macquaria ambigua, Macquaria colonorum, Macquaria novemaculeata, Nemadactylus macropterus
   4. (US) Kyphosus azureus
   5. (UK) Lateolabrax japonicus, Tautogolabrus adspersus
3. Several similar species in the order Perciformes, such as the grouper.

Etymology 2

From Middle English perche, from Old French perche, from Latin pertica (“staff”, “long pole”, “measuring rod”).

noun

1. A rod, staff, tree branch, ledge, etc., used as a roost by a bird.
2. A pole connecting the fore gear and hind gear of a spring carriage; a reach.
3. (figurative) A position that is secure and advantageous, especially one which is prominent or elevated.
   Last year, Eighth Grade found poignancy and humor in its eponymous time period: that purgatorial perch between childhood and adulthood. 14 August 2019, A. A. Dowd, “Good Boys Puts a Tween Spin on the R-rated Teen Comedy, to Mostly Funny Effect”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 2021-03-04
   [W]inning Wimbledon at just 19 years, earning her rightful place on the perch as world number one. 1 Aug 2022, Off the Leash, Darwin, NT, page 12, column 1
4. (figurative) A position that is overly elevated or haughty.
5. (dated) A linear measure of 5+¹⁄₂ yards, equal to a rod, a pole or ¹⁄₄ chain; the related square measure.
6. A cubic measure of stonework equal to 16.6 × 1.5 × 1 feet.
7. (textiles) A frame used to examine cloth.
8. A bar used to support a candle, especially in a church.
9. (theater) A platform for lights to be directed at the stage.

verb

1. (intransitive) To rest on a perch (especially, of a bird); to roost.
   The macaw perched on Jim's shoulder.
2. (intransitive) To sit upon the edge of something.
3. (intransitive) To stay in an elevated position.
4. (transitive) To place something on (or as if on) a perch.
   The most obvious beneficiary of the visitors' superiority was Frank Lampard. By the end of the night he was perched 13th in the list of England's most prolific goalscorers, having leapfrogged Sir Geoff Hurst to score his 24th and 25th international goals. No other player has managed more than the Chelsea midfielder's 11 in World Cup qualification ties, with this a display to roll back the years. September 7, 2012, Dominic Fifield, “England start World Cup campaign with five-goal romp against Moldova”, in The Guardian
5. (transitive, intransitive, textiles) To inspect cloth using a perch.