ptarmigan [L16th] Most English words beginning pt- go back to a Greek source, but ptarmigan, a variety of grouse found in upland areas, is an exception for it comes from Scottish Gaelic tàrmachan, a word of uncertain origin. The spelling pt- does not appear until the late 17th century. It was probably introduced under the influence of those Greek words, particularly pteron ‘wing’, at a time when Greek pt- words were newly introduced into scientific vocabulary.