Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

   Note: The

   {common, or English, {pheasant} ({Phasianus Colchicus}) is
      now found over most of temperate Europe, but was
      introduced from Asia. The

   {ring-necked pheasant} ({P. torquatus}) and the

   {green pheasant} ({P. versicolor}) have been introduced into
      Oregon. The

   {golden pheasant} ({Thaumalea picta}) is one of the most
      beautiful species. The

   {silver pheasant} ({Euplocamus nychthemerus}) of China, and
      several related species from Southern Asia, are very
      beautiful.

   2. (Zo["o]l.) The ruffed grouse. [Southern U.S.]

   Note: Various other birds are locally called pheasants, as
         the lyre bird, the leipoa, etc.

   {Fireback pheasant}. See {Fireback}.

   {Gold}, or {Golden}, {pheasant} (Zo["o]l.), a Chinese
      pheasant ({Thaumalea picta}), having rich, varied colors.
      The crest is amber-colored, the rump is golden yellow, and
      the under parts are scarlet.

   {Mountain pheasant} (Zo["o]l.), the ruffed grouse. [Local,
      U.S.]

   {Pheasant coucal} (Zo["o]l.), a large Australian cuckoo
      ({Centropus phasianus}). The general color is black, with
      chestnut wings and brown tail. Called also {pheasant
      cuckoo}. The name is also applied to other allied species.
      

   {Pheasant duck}. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) The pintail.
      (b) The hooded merganser.

   {Pheasant parrot} (Zo["o]l.), a large and beautiful
      Australian parrakeet ({Platycercus Adelaidensis}). The
      male has the back black, the feathers margined with
      yellowish blue and scarlet, the quills deep blue, the wing
      coverts and cheeks light blue, the crown, sides of the
      neck, breast, and middle of the belly scarlet.

   {Pheasant's eye}. (Bot.)
      (a) A red-flowered herb ({Adonis autumnalis}) of the
          Crowfoot family; -- called also {pheasant's-eye
          Adonis}.
      (b) The garden pink ({Dianthus plumarius}); -- called also
          {Pheasant's-eye pink}.

   {Pheasant shell} (Zo["o]l.), any marine univalve shell of the
      genus {Phasianella}, of which numerous species are found
      in tropical seas. The shell is smooth and usually richly
      colored, the colors often forming blotches like those of a
      pheasant.

   {Pheasant wood}. (Bot.) Same as {Partridge wood}
      (a), under {Partridge}.

   {Sea pheasant} (Zo["o]l.), the pintail.

   {Water pheasant}. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) The sheldrake.
      (b) The hooded merganser.

Golden \Gold"en\, a. [OE. golden; cf. OE. gulden, AS. gylden,
   from gold. See {Gold}, and cf. {Guilder}.]
   1. Made of gold; consisting of gold.

   2. Having the color of gold; as, the golden grain.

   3. Very precious; highly valuable; excellent; eminently
      auspicious; as, golden opinions.

   {Golden age}.
      (a) The fabulous age of primeval simplicity and purity of
          manners in rural employments, followed by the silver,
          bronze, and iron ages. --Dryden.
      (b) (Roman Literature) The best part (B. C. 81 -- A. D.
          14) of the classical period of Latinity; the time when
          Cicero, C[ae]sar, Virgil, etc., wrote. Hence:
      (c) That period in the history of a literature, etc., when
          it flourishes in its greatest purity or attains its
          greatest glory; as, the Elizabethan age has been
          considered the golden age of English literature.

   {Golden balls}, three gilt balls used as a sign of a
      pawnbroker's office or shop; -- originally taken from the
      coat of arms of Lombardy, the first money lenders in
      London having been Lombards.

   {Golden bull}. See under {Bull}, an edict.

   {Golden chain} (Bot.), the shrub {Cytisus Laburnum}, so named
      from its long clusters of yellow blossoms.

   {Golden club} (Bot.), an aquatic plant ({Orontium
      aquaticum}), bearing a thick spike of minute yellow
      flowers.

   {Golden cup} (Bot.), the buttercup.

   {Golden eagle} (Zo["o]l.), a large and powerful eagle
      ({Aquila Chrysa["e]tos}) inhabiting Europe, Asia, and
      North America. It is so called from the brownish yellow
      tips of the feathers on the head and neck. A dark variety
      is called the {royal eagle}; the young in the second year
      is the {ring-tailed eagle}.

   {Golden fleece}.
      (a) (Mythol.) The fleece of gold fabled to have been taken
          from the ram that bore Phryxus through the air to
          Colchis, and in quest of which Jason undertook the
          Argonautic expedition.
      (b) (Her.) An order of knighthood instituted in 1429 by
          Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy; -- called also
          {Toison d'Or}.

   {Golden grease}, a bribe; a fee. [Slang]

   {Golden hair} (Bot.), a South African shrubby composite plant
      with golden yellow flowers, the {Chrysocoma Coma-aurea}.
      

   {Golden Horde} (Hist.), a tribe of Mongolian Tartars who
      overran and settled in Southern Russia early in the 18th
      century.

   {Golden Legend}, a hagiology (the ``Aurea Legenda'') written
      by James de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa, in the 13th
      century, translated and printed by Caxton in 1483, and
      partially paraphrased by Longfellow in a poem thus
      entitled.

   {Golden marcasite} tin. [Obs.]

   {Golden mean}, the way of wisdom and safety between extremes;
      sufficiency without excess; moderation.

            Angels guard him in the golden mean.  --Pope.

   {Golden mole} (Zo["o]l), one of several South African
      Insectivora of the family {Chrysochlorid[ae]}, resembling
      moles in form and habits. The fur is tinted with green,
      purple, and gold.

   {Golden number} (Chronol.), a number showing the year of the
      lunar or Metonic cycle. It is reckoned from 1 to 19, and
      is so called from having formerly been written in the
      calendar in gold.

   {Golden oriole}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Oriole}.

   {Golden pheasant}. See under {Pheasant}.

   {Golden pippin}, a kind of apple, of a bright yellow color.
      

   {Golden plover} (Zo["o]l.), one of several species of
      plovers, of the genus {Charadrius}, esp. the European ({C.
      apricarius, or pluvialis}; -- called also {yellow,
      black-breasted, hill, & whistling, plover}. The common
      American species ({C. dominicus}) is also called
      {frostbird}, and {bullhead}.

   {Golden robin}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Baltimore oriole}, in Vocab.
      

   {Golden rose} (R. C. Ch.), a gold or gilded rose blessed by
      the pope on the fourth Sunday in Lent, and sent to some
      church or person in recognition of special services
      rendered to the Holy See.

   {Golden rule}.
      (a) The rule of doing as we would have others do to us.
          Cf. --Luke vi. 31.
      (b) The rule of proportion, or rule of three.

   {Golden samphire} (Bot.), a composite plant ({Inula
      crithmoides}), found on the seashore of Europe.

   {Golden saxifrage} (Bot.), a low herb with yellow flowers
      ({Chrysosplenium oppositifolium}), blossoming in wet
      places in early spring.

   {Golden seal} (Bot.), a perennial ranunculaceous herb
      ({Hydrastis Canadensis}), with a thick knotted rootstock
      and large rounded leaves.

   {Golden sulphide, or sulphuret}, {of antimony} (Chem.), the
      pentasulphide of antimony, a golden or orange yellow
      powder.

   {Golden warbler} (Zo["o]l.), a common American wood warbler
      ({Dendroica [ae]stiva}); -- called also {blue-eyed yellow
      warbler}, {garden warbler}, and {summer yellow bird}.

   {Golden wasp} (Zo["o]l.), a bright-colored hymenopterous
      insect, of the family {Chrysidid[ae]}. The colors are
      golden, blue, and green.

   {Golden wedding}. See under {Wedding}.

Source : WordNet®

golden
     adj 1: having the deep slightly brownish color of gold; "long
            aureate (or golden) hair"; "a gold carpet" [syn: {aureate},
             {gilded}, {gilt}, {gold}]
     2: marked by peace and prosperity; "a golden era"; "the halcyon
        days of the clipper trade" [syn: {halcyon}, {prosperous}]
     3: made from or covered with gold; "gold coins"; "the gold dome
        of the Capitol"; "the golden calf"; "gilded icons" [syn: {gold},
         {gilded}]
     4: supremely favored or fortunate; "golden lads and girls all
        must / like chimney sweepers come to dust" [syn: {favored},
         {fortunate}]
     5: suggestive of gold; "a golden voice"
     6: very favorable or advantageous; "a golden opportunity" [syn:
         {favorable}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

golden
     
        [Probabaly from folklore's "golden egg"] When used to describe
        a magnetic medium (e.g. "golden disk", "golden tape"),
        describes one containing a tested, up-to-spec, ready-to-ship
        software version.  Compare {platinum-iridium}.
     
        [{Jargon File}]