Pillory.
Pillory, pil′o-ri,n.a wooden frame, supported by an upright pillar or post, and having holes through which the head and hands of a criminal were put as a punishment, disused in England since 1837.—vs.t.Pill′ory,Pill′orise, to punish in the pillory: to expose to ridicule:—pa.t.andpa.p.pill′oried.[O. Fr.pilori; ety. dub.; Prov.espitlori—Low L.speculatorium, a lookout—L.specularia, a window,speculum, a mirror.]
Pillow, pil′ō,n.a cushion filled with feathers, &c., for resting the head on: any cushion: a block of metal for bearing the end of a shaft, or the end of a bowsprit: the socket of a pivot.—v.t.to lay or rest on for support.—v.i.to rest the head on a pillow.—ns.Pill′ow-bier,-beer,-case,-slip, a cover which can be drawn over a pillow;Pill′ow-cup, a last cup before going to bed.—adjs.Pill′owed, supported by, or provided with, a pillow;Pill′owy, like a pillow: soft. [A.S.pyle—L.pulvīnus.]
Pillworm, pil′wurm,n.the millipede.
Pilocarpus, pī-lō-kär′pus,n.a shrub about four or five feet high, slightly branched, the branches erect, a native of Brazil.—n.Pilocar′pine, an alkaloid isolated from pilocarpus, with sudorific properties. [Gr.pilos, a cap,karpos, fruit.]
Pilose, pī′lōs,adj.hairy—alsoPī′lous.—n.Pilos′ity. [L.pilosus—pilus, hair.]
Pilot, pī′lut,n.the steersman of a ship: one who conducts ships in and out of a harbour, along a dangerous coast, &c.: a guide.—v.t.to conduct as a pilot: to direct through dangerous places.—ns.Pī′lotage, the skill of a pilot: the act of piloting: the fee or wages of pilots;Pī′lot-boat, a boat used by pilots for meeting or leaving ships;Pī′lot-cloth, a coarse, stout kind of cloth for overcoats;Pī′lot-en′gine, a locomotive engine sent on before a train to clear its way, as a pilot;Pī′lot-fish, a fish of the mackerel family, so called from its having been supposed to guide sharks to their prey;Pī′lot-flag, the flag hoisted at the fore by a vessel needing a pilot;Pī′lot-house, an enclosed place on deck to shelter the steering-gear and the pilot—alsoWheel-house;Pī′lot-jack′et, a pea-jacket worn by seamen;Pī′lot-whale, the caaing-whale (q.v.). [Fr.pilote—Dut.piloot, frompeilen, to sound,loot(Ger.loth, Eng.lead), a sounding-lead.]
Pilule, pil′ūl,n.a little pill—alsoPil′ula.—adj.Pil′ular, pertaining to pills.
Pilum, pī′lum,n.the heavy javelin used by Roman foot-soldiers:—pl.Pī′la. [L.]
Pilus, pī′lus,n.one of the slender hairs on plants:—pl.Pī′li. [L.]
Pimento, pi-men′to,n.allspice or Jamaica pepper: the tree producing it.—AlsoPimen′ta. [Port.pimenta—L.pigmentum, paint.]
Pimp, pimp,n.one who procures gratifications for the lust of others: a pander.—v.i.to pander.—adjs.Pimp′ing, petty: mean;Pimp′-like. [Fr.pimper, a nasalised form ofpiper, to pipe, hence to cheat.]
Pimpernel, pim′pėr-nel,n.a plant of the primrose family, with reddish flowers—alsoPoor man's weather-glass,Red chickweed.—n.Pimpinel′la, a genus of umbelliferous plants—anise,pimpernel,breakstone. [Fr.pimprenelle(It.pimpinella), either a corr. of a L. formbipennula, double-winged, dim. ofbi-pennis—bis, twice,penna, feather; or from a dim. of L.pampinus, a vine-leaf.]
Pimple, pim′pl,n.a pustule: a small swelling.—adjs.Pim′pled,Pim′ply, having pimples. [A.S.pipel, nasalised from L.papula, a pustule.]
Pin, pin,n.a piece of wood or of metal used for fastening things together: a peg or nail: a sharp-pointed piece of wire with a rounded head for fastening clothes: anything that holds parts together: a piece of wood set up on end to be knocked down by a bowl, as in skittles: a peg used in musical instruments for fastening the strings: anything of little value.—v.t.to fasten with a pin: to fasten: to enclose: to seize and hold fast:—pr.p.pin′ning;pa.t.andpa.p.pinned.—ns.Pin′-butt′ock(Shak.), a sharp, pointed buttock;Pin′case,Pin′cushion, a case or cushion for holding pins;Pin′-feath′er, a small or short feather.—adj.Pin′-feath′ered.—ns.Pin′-hold, a place where a pin is fixed;Pin′-hole, a hole made by a pin: a very small opening;Pin′-mon′ey, money allowed to a wife by her husband for private expenses, originally to buy pins;Pin′ner, one who pins or fastens: a pin-maker: a pinafore: a head-dress with a lappet flying loose;Pin′-point, the point of a pin: a trifle;Pin′tail, a genus of ducks, one handsome species of which is a winter visitor to many parts of the British coast.—adj.Pin′tailed, having a long, narrow tail.—n.Pin′-wheel, a contrate wheel in which the cogs are pins set into the disc: a form of firework constructed to revolve rapidly while burning.—v.t.Pin′work, to work flax-yarn on a wooden pin so as to make it more supple for ease in packing.—Pin-fire cartridge, a cartridge for breech-loading guns;Pins and needles, a feeling as of pricking under the skin, formication.—In merry pin, in a merry humour;On one's pins, on one's legs: in good condition. [M. E.pinne, like Ir. and Gael.pinne, and Ger.pinn, from L.pinnaorpenna, a feather.]
Pin, pin,n.an induration of the membranes of the eye, cataract. [A.S.pinn—Low L.pannus.]
Piña-cloth, pē′nya-kloth,n.a beautiful fabric made of the fibres of the leaves of the pine-apple plant.
Pinafore, pin′a-fōr,n.a loose covering of cotton or linen over a child's dress. [Pin+afore.]
Pinaster, pi-nas′tėr,n.the cluster-pine.
Pince-nez, pangs′-nā,n.a pair of eye-glasses with a spring for catching the nose. [Fr.]
Pincers. Same asPinchers.
Pinch, pinsh,v.t.to grip hard: to squeeze between two hard or firm substances: to squeeze the flesh so as to give pain: to nip: to distress: to gripe.—v.i.to act with force: to bear or press hard: to live sparingly.—n.a close compression with the fingers: what can be taken up between the finger and thumb: an iron bar used as a lever for lifting weights, rolling wheels, &c.: a gripe: distress: oppression.—n.Pinch′commons, a niggard, a miser.—adj.Pinched, having the appearance of being tightly squeezed: hard pressed by want or cold: narrowed in size.—ns.Pinch′er, one who, or that which, pinches;Pinch′ers,Pin′cers, an instrument for gripping anything firmly, esp. for drawing out nails, &c.;Pinch′fist,Pinch′gutPinch′penny, a niggard.—adv.Pinch′ingly, in a pinching manner.—At a pinch, in a case of necessity;Know where the shoe pinches, to know where the cause of trouble or difficulty is. [O. Fr.pincer; prob. Teut., cf. Dut.pitsen, to pinch.]
Pinchbeck, pinsh′bek,n.a yellow alloy of five parts of copper to one of zinc. [From Chris.Pinchbeck, an 18th-century London watchmaker.]
Pindari,Pindaree, pin′dar-ē,n.one of a band of freebooters who, after the overthrow of the Mogul empire in India, grew (1804-17) to be a formidable power in the Central Provinces. [Hind.]
Pindaric, pin-dar′ik,adj.after the manner ofPindar, one of the first of Greek lyric poets.—n.an ode in imitation of one of Pindar's: an ode of irregular metre.—n.Pin′darism, imitation of Pindar.
Pinder, pin′dėr,n.one who impounds stray cattle.—AlsoPin′ner. [A.S.pyndan, to shut up—pund.Cf.Pen, v., andPound, to shut up.]
Pine, pīn,n.a northern cone-bearing, evergreen, resinous tree, furnishing valuable timber.—adj.Pin′eal.—ns.Pin′eal-gland, a rounded body about the size of a pea, of a slightly yellowish colour, situated upon the anterior pair of corpora quadrigemina, and connected with the optic thalami by two strands of nerve fibres termed its peduncles;Pine′-app′le, a tropical plant, and its fruit, shaped like a pine-cone;Pine′-barr′en, a level sandy tract growing pines;Pine′-chā′fer, a beetle which eats pine-leaves.—adjs.Pine′-clad,Pine′-crowned, clad or crowned with pine-trees.—ns.Pine′-cone, the cone or strobilus of a pine-tree;Pine′-finch, a small fringilline bird of North America;Pine′-house, a pinery;Pine′-need′le, the circular leaf of the pine-tree;Pine′-oil, an oil obtained from the resinous exudations of pine and fir trees;Pin′ery, a place where pine-apples are raised: a pine forest;Pinē′tum, a plantation of pine-trees: a collection of pine-trees for ornamental purposes;Pine′-wood, a wood of pine-trees: pine timber;Pine′-wool, a fibrous substance prepared from the leaves of the pine, and used for flannels, hosiery, and blankets in hospitals.—adjs.Pī′nic, pertaining to, or obtained from, the pine: noting an acid consisting of the portion of common resin soluble in cold alcohol;Pinic′oline, inhabiting pine-woods;Pī′ny,Pī′ney, abounding in pine-trees.—Pine-tree money, silver money coined at Boston in the 17th century, and so called from the coins bearing the rude figure of a pine-tree on one side. [A.S.pín,—L.pīnus(forpic-nus),—pix,picis, pitch.]
Pine, pīn,v.i.to waste away under pain or mental distress: to languish with longing.—v.t.to grieve for: to bewail.—n.wasting pain: weary suffering.—Done to pine, starved to death. [A.S.pínian, to torment—L.pœna, punishment.]
Pinfold, pin′fōld,n.a pound or enclosure for cattle.—v.t.to impound. [Forpind-fold=pound-fold.]
Ping, ping,n.the whistling sound of a bullet.—v.i.to produce such a sound.—n.Ping′-pong, a kind of indoor lawn-tennis, played with battledores or small rackets over a net on a table. [From the sounds made by the strokes on the ball.]
Pingle, ping′gl,v.i.(prov.) to eat with feeble appetite: to dawdle.—adj.Ping′ling, dawdling, feeble.
Pinguid, ping′gwid,adj.fat.—n.Ping′uitude. [L.pinguis, fat.]
Pinguin, pin′gwin,n.Same asPenguin.
Pinion, pin′yun,n.a wing: the joint of a wing most remote from the body of the bird: a small wheel with 'leaves' or teeth working into others.—v.t.to confine the wings of: to cut off the pinion: to confine by binding the arms. [O. Fr.pignon—L.pinna(=penna), wing. Cf.Pen, n.]
Pink, pingk,n.a boat with a narrow stern.—AlsoPink′y. [Dut.; Ger.pinke.]
Pink, pingk,v.t.to stab or pierce, esp. with a sword or rapier: to decorate by cutting small holes or scallops.—n.a stab: an eyelet.—adj.Pinked, pierced or worked with small holes.—n.Pink′ing-ī′ron, a tool for pinking or scalloping. [Either through A.S.pyngan, from L.pungĕre, to prick; or acc. to Skeat, a nasalised form ofpick.]
Pink, pingk,n.a flower of any one of several plants of the genusDianthus—carnation, &c.: a shade of light-red colour like that of the flower: a scarlet hunting-coat, also the person wearing such: the minnow, from the colour of its abdomen in summer: any type or example of excellence in its kind.—adj.of a pink colour.—n.Pink′iness.—adj.Pink′ish, somewhat pink.—n.Pink′-root, the root of the Carolina or Indian pink, a common vermifuge.—Pink of perfection, the very highest state of perfection: an example of highest perfection.—Dutch pink, a yellow lake obtained from quercitron bark: (slang) blood. [Prob. a nasalised form of Celt.pic, a point—from the finely notched edges of the petals.]
Pink, pingk,v.i.to wink: to half-shut.—n.Pink′-eye, a disease in horses in which the eye turns somewhat red.—adj.Pink′-eyed, having pink eyes like a rabbit: having small or half-shut eyes.—adj.Pink′y, winking. [Dut.pinken, to wink.]
Pinna, pin′a,n.a single leaflet of a pinnate leaf: a wing, fin, or the like: the auricle of the ear:—pl.Pinn′æ.—adjs.Pinn′ate,-d, shaped like a feather: furnished with wings or fins.—adv.Pinn′ately.—adjs.Pinnat′ifid, cut as a leaf, half-way down or more, with the divisions narrow or acute;Pinnat′isect(bot.), pinnately divided;Pinn′iform, like a feather or fin: pinnate;Pinn′igrade, moving by fins—alson.;Pinn′iped,Pinnat′iped, fin-footed, as a bird;Pinn′ūlate,-d.—n.Pinn′ūle, one of the branchlets of a pinnate leaf: one of the lateral divisions of the finger-like stalks of an encrinite—alsoPinn′ūla.—Pinnate leaf, a compound leaf wherein a single petiole has several leaflets attached to each side of it. [L.pinna, a feather, dim.pinnula.]
Pinnace, pin′ās,n.a small vessel with oars and sails: a boat with eight oars: a man-of-war's boat. [Fr.pinasse—It.pinassa—L.pinus, a pine.]
Pinnacle.
Pinnacle, pin′a-kl,n.a slender turret: a high point like a spire: the highest point of a mountain, &c.—v.t.to build with pinnacles: to place on a pinnacle. [Fr.pinacle—Low L.pinna-culum, double dim. from L.pinna, a feather.]
Pinner, pin′ėr. SeePin.
Pinnet, pin′et,n.(Scott) a pinnacle.
Pinnock, pin′ok,n.the hedge-sparrow.
Pinnoed, pin′ōd,adj.(Spens.) pinioned.
Pinny,Pinnie, pin′ī,n.a pinafore. [Pinafore.]
Pinnywinkle, pin′i-wingk-l,n.an ancient form of torture for the fingers.—AlsoPinn′iewinkle,Pil′nie-winks. [A corr. ofperiwinkle.]
Pint, pīnt,n.a measure of capacity=½ quart or 4 gills: (med.) 12 ounces.—ns.Pint′-pot, a pot for holding a pint, esp. a pewter pot for beer: a seller or drinker of beer;Pint′-stoup, a vessel for holding a Scotch pint. [Fr.pinte—Sp.pinta, mark—L.picta,pingĕre, to paint.]
Pintado, pin-tä′do,adj.painted, spotted.—n.the guinea-fowl: chintz, applied to all printed goods.
Pintail,Pin-wheel. SeePin.
Pintle, pin′tl,n.a little pin: a long iron bolt: the bolt or pin on which the rudder of a ship turns. [Dim. ofpin.]
Pinxit, pingk′sit,v.i.andv.t.he or she painted—used in noting the painter of a picture, as Rubenspinxit. [L., 3d sing. perf. indic. ofpingĕre, to paint.]
Pioned, pī′ō-ned,adj.(Shak.) overgrown with marsh-marigolds, that flower being still calledpeonyaround Stratford.
Pioneer, pī-ō-nēr′,n.one of a party of soldiers who clear the road before an army, sink mines, &c.: one who goes before to prepare the way for others.—v.t.to act as pioneer to.—ns.Pī′oner(Shak.), a pioneer;Pī′oning(Spens.), the work of pioneers: military works. [O. Fr.peonier(Fr.pionnier)—pion, a foot-soldier—Low L.pedo,pedonis, a foot-soldier—L.pes,pedis, a foot.]
Pious, pī′us,adj.showing love, affection, or respect towards parents: having reverence and love for theDeity: proceeding from religious feeling.—adv.Pī′ously, in a pious manner.—adj.Pī′ous-mind′ed, of a pious disposition. [Fr.pieux—L.pius.]
Pip, pip,n.a disease of fowls—also calledRoup. [Low L.pipita—L.pipuita, rheum.]
Pip, pip,n.the seed of fruit. [Pippin.]
Pip, pip,n.one of the spots on dice or playing-cards. [Corr. of prov.pick—Fr.pique, a spade, at cards.]
Pip, pip,v.t.(slang) to blackball.
Pip, pip,v.i.to chirp, as a young bird.
Pipe, pīp,n.a musical wind instrument consisting of a long tube: any long tube: a tube of clay, &c., with a bowl at one end for smoking tobacco: a pipeful: the note of a bird: a cask containing two hogsheads.—v.i.to play upon a pipe: to whistle, to chirp: to make a shrill noise.—v.t.to play on a pipe: to call with a pipe, as on board ships: to give forth shrill notes: to supply with pipes, to convey by pipes.—ns.Pip′age, conveyance or distribution by pipes;Pipe′-case, a box softly lined to protect a pipe;Pipe′clay, a fine white plastic clay, very like kaolin, but containing a larger percentage of silica, used for making tobacco-pipes and fine earthenware.—v.t.to whiten with pipeclay: (slang) to blot out, as accounts.—adj.Piped(pīpt), tubulous or fistulous.—ns.Pipe′-fish, a genus of fishes in the same order as the seahorse, having a long thin body covered with partially ossified plates, the head long, and the jaws elongated so as to form a tubular snout, hence the name;Pipe′-lay′er;Pipe′-lay′ing, the laying down of pipes for gas, water, &c.;Pipe′-off′ice, formerly an office in the Court of Exchequer in which the clerk of the pipe made out crown-land leases;Pip′er;Pipe′-roll, a pipe-like roll, the earliest among the records of the Exchequer;Pipe′-stā′ple, the stalk of a tobacco-pipe: a stalk of grass;Pipe′-stick, the wooden tube used as the stem of some tobacco-pipes;Pipe′-tongs, an implement for holding or turning metal pipes or pipe-fittings;Pipe′-tree, the lilac;Pipe′-wine(Shak.), wine drawn from the cask, as distinguished from bottled wine;Pipe′-wrench, a wrench with one movable jaw, both so shaped as to bite together when placed on a pipe and rotated round it.—Pipe down, to dismiss from muster, as a ship's company;Pipe off, to watch a house or person for purposes of theft;Pipe one's eye, to weep.—Drunk as a piper, very drunk;Pay the piper, to bear the expense. [A.S.pípe; Dut.pijp, Ger.pfeife.]
Piperaceous, pip-e-rā′shi-us,adj.pertaining to thePiperā′ceæ, the pepper family.—adj.Piper′ic, produced from such plants.—n.Pip′erine, an alkaloid found in pepper. [L.piper, pepper.]
Pipette, pi-pet′,n.a small tube for removing small portions of a fluid from one vessel to another. [Fr.]
Pipi, pē′pē,n.the astringent pods ofCæsalpinia pipai, a Brazilian plant used in tanning.
Piping, pī′ping,adj.uttering a weak, shrill, piping sound, like the sick: sickly: feeble: boiling.—n.act of piping: sound of pipes: a system of pipes for any purpose: small cord used as trimming for dresses, &c.: a slip or cutting taken from a plant with a jointed stem.
Pipistrel,Pipistrelle,pip-is-trel′,n.a small reddish-brown bat. [Fr.]
Pipit, pip′it,n.a genus of birds resembling larks in plumage and wagtails in habits, the most common British species being the titlark.
Pipkin, pip′kin,n.a small earthen pot. [Pipe.]
Pippin, pip′in,n.a kind of apple. [O. Fr.pepin—L.pepo—Gr.pepōn, a melon.]
Pipul, pip′ul,n.the sacred fig-tree.—AlsoPip′al,Pipp′ul-tree,Peep′ul-tree. [Hind.]
Pipy, pī′pi,adj.like a pipe: tubular.
Piquant, pē′kant,adj.stimulating to the taste: of a lively spark.—n.Piq′uancy.—adv.Piq′uantly. [Fr.piquant, pr.p. ofpiquer, to prick.]
Pique, pēk,n.an offence taken: a feeling of anger or vexation caused by wounded pride: spite: nicety: punctilio.—v.t.to wound the pride of: to offend: to pride or value (one's self):—pr.p.piq′uing;pa.t.andpa.p.piqued. [Fr.pique, a pike, pique; cf.PickandPike.]
Piqué, pē-kā′,n.a heavy cotton fabric having a surface corded or with a raised lozenge pattern: a similar pattern produced by quilting with the needle.—n.Piqué-work. [Fr.]
Piquet. Same asPicket.
Piquet, pi-ket′,n.a game at cards.—n.Pique, in piquet, the scoring of 30 points in one hand before the other side scores at all. [Picket.]
Piragua, pi-rä′gwä. Same asPeriagua.
Pirate, pī′rāt,n.one who, without authority, attempts to capture ships at sea: a sea-robber: an armed vessel which, without legal right, plunders other vessels at sea: one who steals or infringes a copyright.—v.t.to rob at sea: to take without permission, as books or writings.—n.Pī′racy, the crime of a pirate: robbery on the high seas: infringement of copyright.—adjs.Pirat′ic,-al, pertaining to a pirate: practising piracy.—adv.Pirat′ically. [Fr.,—L.pirata—Gr.peiratēs—peiraein, to attempt.]
Piriform, pir′i-form,adj.pear-shaped.
Pirn, pirn,n.anything that revolves or twists: a reel, bobbin, &c.: the amount of thread wound on a shuttle or reel.
Pirnie, pir′ni,n.(Scot.) a striped woollen nightcap.
Pirogue, pi-rōg′. SeePeriagua.
Pirouette, pir-ōō-et′,n.a wheeling about, esp. in dancing: the whirling round of a horse on the same ground.—v.i.to execute a pirouette. [Fr.]
Pisces, pis′ēz,n.the Fishes, the twelfth sign of the zodiac.—ns.Pis′cary, right of fishing in another man's waters;Piscatol′ogy, the scientific study of fishes;Piscā′tor, an angler:—fem.Piscā′trix.—adj.Piscatō′rial, relating to fishes or fishing: fond of fishing—alsoPis′catory.—n.Pis′cicapture, the taking of fish.—adjs.Piscic′olous, parasitic upon fishes;Piscicul′tural, pertaining to pisciculture.—ns.Pis′ciculture, the rearing of fish by artificial methods;Pis′ciculturist, a fish-culturist.—adjs.Pis′ciform, in shape like a fish: having the form of a fish;Pis′cine, pertaining to fishes;Pisciv′orous, feeding on fishes. [L.piscis, a fish.]
Piscina.
Piscina, pis-ī′na,n.a basin or tank, esp. one for holding fishes or for growing water-plants: a fish-pond: (archit.) a basin or sink on the south side of the altar in old churches, into which is emptied water used in washing any of the sacred vessels.—adj.Pis′cinal, belonging to a fish-pond. [L., a fish-pond, a cistern—piscis, a fish.]
Pisé, pē-zā′,n.stiff earth or clay rammed down to form walls or floors. [Fr.]
Pish, pish,interj.expressing contempt. [Imit.]
Pisiform, pī′si-form,adj. pea-shaped. [L.pisum, pea,forma, shape.]
Pismire, pis′mīr,n.an ant or emmet. [Piss, from the strong smell of the ant-hill, A.S.mire, ant.]
Pisolite, pī′sō-līt,n.a coarse oolite or concretionary limestone in large globules.—adj.Pisolit′ic. [Gr.pisos, pea,lithos, stone.]
Piss, pis,v.i.to discharge urine or make water.—ns.Piss′-a-bed(prov.), the dandelion;Piss′asphalt,Pis′ophalt, a variety of bitumen;Piss′-pot, a chamber-pot. [Fr.pisser; imit.]
Pistachio, pis-tā′shi-ō,n.the almond-flavoured pistachio-nut, the fruit of thePistā′chia, a small genus of trees of the cashew family, native to western Asia. [It.,—L.pistacium—Gr.pistakion—Pers.pistā.]
Pistareen, pis-ta-rēn′,n.in West Indies, the peseta.
Pistil, pis′til,n.(bot.) the female organ in the centre of a flower, consisting of three parts—ovary,style, andstigma.—adjs.Pistillā′ceous,Pis′tillary, growing on a pistil: pertaining to, or having the nature of, a pistil;Pis′tillāte, having a pistil: having a pistil only;Pistillif′erous, bearing a pistil without stamens. [Fr.,—L.pistillum, a pestle.]
Pistol, pis′tol,n.a small hand-gun, held in one hand when fired.—v.t.to shoot with a pistol.—ns.Pistoleer′, one armed with a pistol;Pis′tolet, a little pistol;Pis′tol-shot. [O. Fr.pistole—It.pistola, said to be fromPistoja(orig.Pistola), a town in Italy.]
Pistole, pis′tōl,n.a Spanish gold coin=about 16 shillings. [Same as above.]
Piston, pis′tun,n.a circular plate of metal, or other material, used in pumps, steam-engines, &c., fitting and moving up and down within a tube or hollow cylinder.—n.Pis′ton-rod, the rod to which the piston is fixed, and which moves up and down with it. [Fr.,—It.pistone—pesto, to pound—L.pinsĕre,pistum.]
Pit, pit,n.a hole in the earth: a place whence minerals are dug: the bottomless pit: the grave: the abode of evil spirits: a hole used as a trap for wild beasts: the hollow of the stomach, or that under the arm at the shoulder: the indentation left by smallpox: the ground-floor of a theatre: an enclosure in which cocks fight: the shaft of a mine.—v.t.to mark with little hollows: to lay in a pit: to set in competition:—pr.p.pit′ting;pa.t.andpa.p.pit′ted.—ns.Pit′-coal, coal dug from a pit—notcharcoal;Pit′-frame, the framework round a mine-shaft;Pit′-head, the ground at the mouth of a pit, and the machinery, &c., on it;Pit′man, a man who works in a coal-pit or a saw-pit, esp. the man who works the pumping machinery in the shaft of a mine: (mach.) a rod connecting a rotary with a reciprocating part.—adj.Pit′ted, marked with small pits.—ns.Pit′ting, the act of digging, or of placing in, a pit: a group of pit-marks: a corrosion of the inside of steam-boilers, &c.;Pit′-vill′age, a group of miners' houses near a pit. [A.S.pyt,pytt—L.puteus, a well.]
Pitaka, pit′a-ka,n.a collection of Buddhist scriptures, as made in Tibet. [Sans., 'basket.']
Pitapat, pit′a-pat,adv.with palpitation or quick beating.—adj.fluttering.—n.a light, quick step: a succession of light taps.—v.i.to step or tread quickly.
Pitch, pich,n.the solid black shining substance obtained by boiling down common tar.—v.t.to smear with pitch.—adjs.Pitch′-black,Pitch′-dark, dark as pitch: very dark.—ns.Pitch′-blende, a black oxide of uranium;Pitch′-coal, a kind of bituminous coal: jet;Pitch′iness, state or quality of being pitchy;Pitch′-pine, a kind of pine which yields pitch, and is much used in America as fuel;Pitch′-plas′ter, a plaster of Burgundy or white pitch;Pitch′-stone, an old volcanic-like hardened pitch;Pitch′-tree, the kauri pine, the Amboyna pine, or the Norway spruce.—adj.Pitch′y, having the qualities of pitch: smeared with pitch: black like pitch: dark: dismal. [A.S.pic—L.pix,pic-is.]
Pitch, pich,v.t.to thrust or fix in the ground: to fix or set in array: to fix the rate or price: to fling or throw: (mus.) to set the keynote of.—v.i.to settle, as something pitched: to come to rest from flight: to fall headlong: to fix the choice: to encamp: to rise and fall, as a ship.—n.a throw or cast from the hand: any point or degree of elevation or depression: degree: degree of slope: a descent: the height of a note in speaking or in music: (mech.) distance between the centres of two teeth in a wheel or a saw, or between the threads of a screw measured parallel to the axis.—ns.Pitched′-batt′le, a battle in which the contending parties have fixed positions: a battle previously arranged for on both sides;Pitch′er;Pitch′-far′thing, chuck-farthing;Pitch′fork, a fork for pitching hay, &c.: a tuning-fork.—v.t.to lift with a pitchfork: to throw suddenly into any position.—ns.Pitch′ing, the act of throwing: a facing of stone along a bank to protect against the action of water;Pitch′pipe, a small pipe to pitch the voice or tune with.—Pitch and pay(Shak.), pay down at once, pay ready-money;Pitch and toss, a game in which coins are thrown at a mark, the person who throws nearest having the right oftossingall the coins, and keeping those which come down head uppermost;Pitch in, to begin briskly;Pitch into, to assault. [A form ofpick.]
Pitcher, pich′ėr,n.a vessel for holding water, &c.—n.Pitch′er-plant, a plant with leaves shaped like a pitcher or ascidium—Nepenthes, &c.—Pitchers have ears, there may be listeners. [O. Fr.picher—Low L.picarium, a goblet—Gr.bīkos, a wine-vessel, an Eastern word.]
Piteous, pit′e-us,adj.showing or feeling pity: fitted to excite pity: mournful: compassionate: paltry.—adv.Pit′eously.—n.Pit′eousness. [O. Fr.pitos,piteus. Cf.Pity.]
Pitfall, pit′fawl,n.a pit slightly covered, so that wild beasts may fall into it: any concealed danger.
Pith, pith,n.the marrow or soft substance in the centre of the stems of dicotyledonous plants: force or energy: importance: condensed substance: quintessence.—n.Pith′-ball, a pellet of pith.—adv.Pith′ily.—n.Pith′iness.—adj.Pith′less, wanting pith, force, or energy.—n.Pith′-pā′per, a thin sheet cut from pith for paper: rice-paper.—adj.Pith′y, full of pith: forcible: strong: energetic. [A.S.pitha; Dut.pit, marrow.]
Pithecus, pi-thē′kus,n.a name formerly used by zoologists for various groups of apes and monkeys.—ns.Pithecanthrō′pi, hypothetical ape-men;Pithē′cia, the genus of South American monkeys which includes theSakisand allied species.—adj.Pithē′coid. [L.,—Gr.pithēkos, an ape.]
Pithos, pith′os,n.a large spheroid Greek earthenware vase. [Gr.]
Pit-mirk, pit′-mėrk,adj.(Scot.) dark as pitch.
Pitri, pit′rē,n.pl.the deceased ancestors of a man: in Hindu mythology, an order of divine beings inhabiting celestial regions of their own, and receiving into their society the spirits of those mortals for whom funeral rites have been duly performed. [Sans., 'father,' pl.pitaras.]
Pitsaw, pit′saw,n.a large saw for cutting timber, worked by thepit-sawyerin the pit below the log and thetop-sawyeron the log.
Pittacal, pit′a-kal,n.a blue substance obtained from wood-tar oil and used in dyeing. [Gr.pitta, pitch,kalos, beautiful.]
Pittance, pit′ans,n.an allowance of food or drink: a dole: a very small portion or quantity. [Fr.pitance, an allowance of food in a monastery—Low L.pietantea—L.pietas, pity.]
Pituitary, pit′ū-i-tā-ri,adj.mucous—alsoPit′ūital,Pit′ūitous.—ns.Pitūī′ta,Pit′uite, phlegm.—Pituitary body, a rounded body of the size of a small bean, situated in the sella turcica in the sphenoid bone on the floor of the cavity of the skull. [L.pituitarius—pituita, mucus.]
Pity, pit′i,n.a strong feeling for or with the sufferings of others: sympathy with distress: a cause or source of pity or grief.—v.t.to feel pity with: to sympathise with:—pa.t.andpa.p.pit′ied.—adj.Pit′iable, deserving pity: affecting: wretched.—n.Pit′iableness.—adv.Pit′iably.—n.Pit′ier, one who pities.—adj.Pit′iful, feeling pity: compassionate: exciting pity: sad: despicable.—adv.Pit′ifully.—n.Pit′ifulness.—adj.Pit′iless, without pity: cruel.—adv.Pit′ilessly.—n.Pit′ilessness.—adv.Pit′yingly, in a pitying manner.—It pitieth me, you, them, &c. (Pr. Bk.), it causeth pity in me, you, them, &c. [O. Fr.pite(Fr.pitié, It.pietà)—L.pietas,pietatis—pius, pious.]
Pityriasis, pit-i-rī′a-sis,n.the term given to certain of the squamous or scaly diseases of the skin, in which there is a continual throwing off of bran-like scales of epidermis.—adj.Pit′yroid, bran-like. [Gr.pityron, bran.]
Più, pū,adv.more.—Più allegro, quicker. [It.]
Pivot, piv′ut,n.the pin on which anything turns: the officer or soldier at the flank upon whom a company wheels: that on which anything depends or turns.—adj.Piv′otal, of the nature of a pivot: acting as a pivot.—n.Piv′ot-bridge, a form of swing-bridge moving on a vertical pivot.—adj.Piv′oted, furnished with a pivot or pivots.—ns.Piv′ot-gear′ing, a system of gearing permitting the driving-shaft to be swivelled so as to set the machine in any direction with relation to the power;Piv′ot-gun, a gun mounted on a pivot, so as to be able to turn in any direction;Piv′oting, the pivot-work in machines;Piv′ot-man, the soldier or officer who acts as a pivot (seePivot). [Fr. dim. of It.piva, a pipe, a peg, a pin—Low L.pipa.]
Pix, piks,n.Same asPyx.
Pixy,Pixie, pik′si,n.a small Devonshire fairy.—adj.Pix′y-led, bewildered.—ns.Pix′y-ring, a fairy-ring, a well-marked ring of a different kind of grass, common on meadows and heaths;Pix′y-stool, a toadstool or mushroom. [Puck.]
Pize, pīz,n.a term used in execration, likepox.
Pizzicato, pit-si-kä′to,adj.a phrase used in music for the violin or violoncello, to denote that here the strings are to be twitched with the fingers in the manner of a harp or guitar. [It.,—pizzicare, to twitch.]
Pizzle, piz′l,n.the penis of an animal, as a bull. [Low Ger.pesel.]
Placable, plā′ka-bl, orplak′a-bl,adj.that may be appeased: relenting: willing to forgive.—ns.Placabil′ity,Plā′cableness.—adv.Plā′cably.—v.t.Plā′cāte, to conciliate.—n.Placā′tion, propitiation.—adj.Plā′catory, conciliatory. [L.placabilis—placāre, to appease, akin toplacēre, to please.]
Placard, plak′ärd, or plā-kärd′,n.a written or printed paper stuck upon a wall as an advertisement, &c.: a public proclamation: the woodwork and frame of the door of a closet and the like.—v.t.Placard(plā-kärd′,orplak′ärd),to publish or notify by placards. [Fr.placard, a bill stuck on a wall—plaque, plate, tablet; acc. to Diez, from Dut.plak, a piece of flat wood.]
Placcate, plak′āt,n.SeePlacket.
Place, plās,n.a broad way in a city: an open space used for a particular purpose: a particular locality: a town: room to dwell, sit, or stand in: the position held by anybody, employment, office, a situation: a mansion with its grounds: proper position or dignity, priority in such: stead: passage in a book: a topic, matter of discourse: in sporting contests, position among the first three.—v.t.to put in any place or condition: to find a home for: to settle: to lend: invest: to ascribe.—n.Place′-hunt′er, one who seeks eagerly official position or public office.—adj.Place′less, without place or office.—ns.Place′man, one who has a place or office under a government:—pl.Place′men;Place′ment, placing or setting;Place′-mong′er, one who traffics in appointments to places;Place′-name, the name of a place or locality: a local name;Plac′er.—Give place, to make room, to yield;Have place, to have existence;In place, in position: opportune;Out of place, inappropriate, unseasonable;Take place, to come to pass: to take precedence of. [Fr.,—L.platea, a broad street—Gr.plateia, a street—platys, broad.]
Placebo, plā-sē′bo,n.in the R.C. service of vespers for the dead the name of the first antiphon, which begins with the word: a medicine given to humour or gratify a patient rather than to exercise any curative effect. [L., 'I will please'—placēre, to please.]
Placenta, pla-sen′ta,n.the structure which unites the unborn mammal to the womb of its mother and establishes a nutritive connection between them: (bot.) the portion of the ovary which bears the ovules:—pl.Placen′tæ.—adj.Placen′tal.—n.pl.Placentā′lia, placental mammals.—adjs.Placentā′lian;Placen′tary, pertaining to, or having, a placenta.—n.a mammal having a placenta.—adjs.Placen′tate,Placentif′erous.—ns.Placentā′tion, the mode in which the placenta is formed and attached to the womb;Placentī′tis, inflammation of the placenta. [L., a flat cake, akin to Gr.plakous, a flat cake, fromplax,plak-os, anything flat.]
Placer, plas′er,n.a place where the superficial detritus is washed for gold, &c.: hence any place holding treasures. [Sp.]
Placet, plā′set,n.a vote of assent in a governing body: permission given, esp. by a sovereign, to publish and carry out an ecclesiastical order, as a papal bull or edict. [L., 'it pleases,' 3d sing. pres. indic. ofplacēre, to please.]
Placid, plas′id,adj.gentle: peaceful.—ns.Placid′ity,Plac′idness.—adv.Plac′idly. [Fr.,—L.placidus—placēre, to please.]
Placitory, plas′i-tō-ri,adj.of or relating to pleas or pleading in courts of law.
Placitum, plas′i-tum,n.a public assembly in the Middle Ages, presided over by the sovereign, to consult on affairs of state: a resolution of such an assembly:—pl.Plac′ita. [L., fromplacēre, to please.]
Plack, plak,n.a small copper coin formerly current in Scotland, equal in value to the third part of an English penny.—adj.Plack′less, penniless. [O. Fr.plaque, a plate.]
Placket, plak′et,n.(Shak.) the slit in a petticoat: a petticoat—hence, a woman: a placcate or additional plate of steel on the lower half of the breast-plate, or back-plate: a leather jacket strengthened with strips of steel. [Fr.plaquet—plaquer, to clap on.]
Placoderm, plak′o-dėrm,adj.noting an order of fossil fishes having their skin covered with bony plates. [Gr.plax,plakos, anything flat,derma, skin.]
Placoid, plak′oid,adj.plate-like.—Placoid fishes, an order of fishes having placoid scales, irregular plates of hard bone, not imbricated, but placed near together in the skin. [Gr.plax,plakos, anything flat and broad,eidos, form.]
Placula, plak′ū-la,n.a little plate or plaque.—adjs.Plac′ular,Plac′ulāte.
Plafond, pla-fond′,n.the ceiling of a room, any soffit. [Fr.]
Plagal, plā′gal,adj.in Gregorian music, denoting a mode or melody in which the final is in the middle of the compass instead of at the bottom—opp. toAuthentic. [Gr.plagios, sidewise—plagos, a side.]
Plagiarise, plā′ji-ar-īz,v.t.to steal from the writings or ideas of another.—ns.Plā′giarism, the act or practice of plagiarising;Plā′giarist, one who plagiarises;Plā′giary, one who steals the thoughts or writings of others and gives them out as his own: the crime of plagiarism.—adj.practising literary theft. [Fr.plagiaire—L.plagiarius, a kidnapper—plaga, a net.]
Plagioclase, plā′ji-ō-klāz,n.a group of triclinic feldspars whose cleavage planes are not at right angles to each other.—adj.Plagioclas′tic. [Gr.plagios, oblique,klasis, a fracture.]
Plagiodont, plā′ji-ō-dont,adj.having the teeth oblique.
Plagiostome, plā′ji-ō-stōm,n.a plagiostomous fish, one of thePlagios′tomi, a division of fishes, including sharks and rays.—adjs.Plagiostom′atous,Plagios′tomous.
Plagiotropism, plā-ji-ot′rō-pizm,n.a mode of turning of the organs of plants in the direction of gravitation or of the ray of light.—adj.Plagiotrop′ic.—adv.Plagiotrop′ically. [Gr.plagios, oblique,tropos, a turning.]
Plagium, plā′ji-um,n.the crime of kidnapping.
Plague, plāg,n.any great natural evil: a deadly disease or pestilence: a very troublesome person or thing, esp. a malignant kind of contagious fever, prevailing epidemically, characterised by buboes, or swellings of the lymphatic glands, by carbuncles and petechiæ.—v.t.to infest with disease or trouble: to harass or annoy:—pr.p.plāg′uing;pa.t.andpa.p.plāgued.—ns.Plague′-mark,-spot, a mark or spot of plague or foul disease: a place where disease is constantly present;Plag′uer, one who plagues, vexes, or annoys;Plague′-sore.—adv.Plag′uily, vexatiously.—adj.Plaguy(plā′gi),vexatious: (Shak.) troublesome.—adv.vexatiously.—Plague on, may a curse rest on.—Be at the plague, to be at the trouble. [O. Fr.plague—L.plaga, a blow; Gr.plēgē.]
Plaice, plās,n.a broad, flat fish, in the same genus as the flounder. [O. Fr.plaïs(Fr.plie)—Low L.platessa, a flat fish—Gr.platys, flat.]
Plaid, plad, or plād,n.a loose outer garment of woollen cloth, often of a tartan, or coloured striped pattern, a special dress of the Highlanders of Scotland.—adj.like a plaid in pattern or colours.—adj.Plaid′ed, wearing a plaid: made of plaid cloth.—n.Plaid′ing, a strong woollen twilled fabric. [Gael.plaide, a blanket, contr. ofpeal-laid, a sheepskin—peall, a skin, cog. with L.pellis, Eng.fell.]
Plain, plān,v.t.andv.i.to complain: to lament.—ns.Plain′ant, one who complains: a plaintiff;Plain′ing(Shak.), complaint. [O. Fr.pleigner(Fr.plaindre)—L.plangĕre, to lament.]
Plain, plān,adj.without elevations, even, flat: level, smooth, without obstructions: free from difficulties, easy, simple: without ornament or beauty, homely: artless: sincere: evident, unmistakable: mere: not coloured, figured, or variegated: not highly seasoned, natural, not cooked or dressed: not trumps at cards.—n.an extent of level land: an open field.—adv.clearly: distinctly.—v.t.(obs.) to make plain.—n.pl.Plain′-clothes, clothes worn by an officer when off duty or not in uniform.—ns.Plain′-cook, one able to cook all ordinary dishes;Plain′-deal′er, one who deals or speaks his mind plainly.—adj.Plain′-deal′ing, speaking or acting plainly, candid.—n.candid speaking or acting, sincerity.—adj.Plain′-heart′ed, having a plain or honest heart: sincere.—n.Plain′-heart′edness.—adv.Plain′ly.—ns.Plain′ness;Plain′-song, the music of a recitative-like character and sung in unison, used in the Christian Church of the West from the earliest times, and still in use in all R.C. churches: a simple air without variations: a plain unvarnished statement;Plain′-speak′ing, straight-forwardness or bluntness of speech.—adj.Plain′-spok′en, speaking with plain, rough sincerity.—n.pl.Plain′stanes(Scot.), flagstones, pavement.—n.Plain′work, plain needlework, as distinguished from embroidery.—Plain as a pikestaff, perfectly plain or clear. [Fr.,—L.plānus, plain.]
Plaint, plānt,n.lamentation: complaint: a sad song: (law) the exhibiting of an action in writing by a complainant.—adj.Plaint′ful, complaining: expressing sorrow.—n.Plaint′iff(Eng. law), one who commences a suit against another—opp. toDefendant.—adj.Plaint′ive, complaining: expressing sorrow: sad.—adv.Plaint′ively.—n.Plaint′iveness.—adj.Plaint′less, without complaint: unrepining. [O. Fr.pleinte(Fr.plainte)—L.planctus—plangĕre,planctum, to lament.]
Plaise, plās,n.Same asPlaice.
Plaister, plās′tėr,n.an obsolete form ofplaster.
Plait, plāt,n.a fold: a doubling over, as of cloth upon itself: a braid.—v.t.to fold: to double in narrow folds: to interweave.—adj.Plait′ed, folded over in narrow folds: braided: interwoven: intricate.—ns.Plait′er, one who plaits or braids: a machine for making plaits, as in cloth;Plait′ing, the act of making plaits. [O. Fr.pleit,ploit(Fr.pli)—L.plicāre,-ātum, to fold.]
Plan, plan,n.a drawing of anything on a plane or flat surface: a drawing of a building as it stands on the ground: a scheme or project for accomplishing a purpose: a contrivance: a method or custom.—v.t.to make a sketch of on a flat surface: to form in design: to lay plans for:—pr.p.plan′ning;pa.t.andpa.p.planned.—adj.Plan′less.—ns.Plan′ner, one who forms a plan: a projector;Work′ing-plan, a draft on a large scale given to workmen to work from.—Plan of campaign, the method of conducting the struggle of the Irish tenants against the landlords, organised by the National League in 1886, its officers collecting what they considered a fair rent, and offering it to the landlord, and where he refused to accept it spending it on the support of the persons evicted. [Fr.,—L.planus, flat.]
Planarian, plā-nā′ri-an,adj.andn.a term practically coextensive with Turbellarian, applicable to the members of the lowest class of worm-like animals, living in fresh and salt water, and sometimes in damp earth.—adjs.Planar′iform,Planā′rioid. [L.planarius, flat.]
Planch, planch,v.t.(Shak.) to cover with planks. [Fr.planche—L.planea.]
Planchet, plan′chet,n.a flat piece of metal ready to receive impression as a coin.
Planchette, plan-shet′,n.a small heart-shaped or triangular piece of board resting on three props, two of which are castors and one a pencil-point, which, while a person's fingers are lightly resting on it, sometimes moves, as if of its own accord, and traces with the pencil marks and even words upon a piece of paper below it. [Fr.planchette, a small board.]
Plane, plān,n.(geom.) a surface on which, if any two points be taken, the straight line joining them will lie entirely on the surface: (astron.) a surface thought of as bounded by the line round which a heavenly body moves: any flat or level surface: any incline on which coal is lowered by the effect of gravity: any grade of life or of development.—adj.having the character of a plane: pertaining to, lying in, or forming a plane.—v.t.to make plane or smooth.—adj.Plā′nary, relating to a plane: flat.—n.Plane′-tā′ble, a topographical instrument used in field-mapping, and having a sighting-telescope for observing objects, whose angles may be noted on a paper on the table of the instrument: an inclined table on which ore is dressed.—v.t.to survey with a plane-table.—ns.Plan′igraph, an instrument for reducing or enlarging drawings;Planim′eter, an instrument for measuring the area of a plane figure.—adjs.Planimet′ric,-al.—n.Planim′etry, the mensuration of plane surfaces.—adj.Planipet′alous, having flat petals.—ns.Plan′isher, a thin flat-ended tool used for smoothing tin-plate and brasswork: a workman who planishes, esp. one who prepares copper-plates for engravers;Plan′isphere, a sphere projected on a plane.—adjs.Planispher′ic;Plāno-con′cave, plane on one side and concave on the other;Plā′no-con′ical, plane on one side and conical on the other;Plā′no-con′vex, plane on one side and convex on the other.—n.Planog′raphist, a map-maker.—adj.Plā′no-horizon′tal, having a plane horizontal surface or position.—ns.Planom′eter, a plane surface used in machine-making as a gauge for plane surfaces;Planom′etry, the measurement of plane surfaces.—adj.Plā′no-sub′ulate, smooth and awl-shaped.—Plane angle, an angle contained by two straight lines in a plane;Plane figure, a figure all of whose points lie in one plane;Plane geometry, the geometry of plane figures;Plane sailing, the calculation of a ship's place in its course, as if the earth were flat instead of spherical: easy work;Plane trigonometry, that branch of trigonometry which treats of triangles described on a plane.—Inclined plane(seeIncline);Perspective plane(seePerspective). [Fr.,—L.planus, plain.]
Plane, plān,n.a carpenter's tool for producing a level or smooth surface.—v.t.to make a surface (as of wood) level by means of a plane.—ns.Plā′ner, a tool or machine for planing: a smooth wooden block used for levelling a form of type;Plān′ing-machine′, a machine for planing wood or metals.—v.t.Plan′ish, to make smooth: to polish. [Fr.,—Low L.planāre, to make level.]
Planet, plan′et,n.one of the bodies in the solar system which revolve in elliptic orbits round the sun.—n.Planetā′rium, a machine showing the motions and orbits of the planets.—adjs.Plan′etary, pertaining to the planets: consisting of, or produced by, planets: under the influence of a planet: erratic: revolving;Planet′ic,-al.—n.Plan′etoid, a celestial body having the form or nature of a planet: one of a number of very small planets, often called asteroids, moving round the sun between Mars and Jupiter.—adjs.Planetoi′dal;Plan′et-strick′en,Plan′et-struck(astrol.), affected by the influence of the planets: blasted.—n.Plan′etule, a little planet.—Minor planets, the numerous group of very small planets which is situated in the solar system between Mars and Jupiter. [Fr.planète—Gr.planētēs, wanderer—planān, to make to wander.]
Plane-tree, plān′-trē,n.any one of the several trees constituting the genusPlatanus, esp. the oriental or common plane-tree, with its variety the maple-leaved plane-tree, and the American plane-tree, usually calledsycamoreorbuttonwoodorbuttonball: in Great Britain, the sycamore maple. [Fr.plane—L.platanus—Gr.platanos—platys, broad.]
Plangent, plan′jent,adj.resounding: noisy. [L.plangens,-gentis—plangĕre, to beat.]
Plank, plangk,n.a long piece of timber, thicker than a board: one of the principles or aims of an associated party.—v.t.to cover with planks.—n.Plank′ing, the act of laying planks: a series of planks: work made up of planks.—Walk the plank, to be compelled to walk along a plank projecting over the ship's edge into the sea. [L.planca, a board; cf.Plain, even.]
Plankton, plangk′ton,n.pelagic animals collectively. [Gr.,planktos, wandering.]
Planodia, plā-nō′di-a,n.a false passage, such as may be made in using a catheter.
Plant, plant,n.a something living and growing, fixed on the ground and drawing food therefrom by means of its root, and developing into a stem, leaves, and seed: a sprout: any vegetable production: the tools or material of any trade or business: (slang) a trick, dodge, hidden plunder.—v.t.to put into the ground for growth: to furnish with plants: to set in the mind, implant: to establish.—v.i.to set shoots in the ground.—adj.Plant′able.—ns.Plant′age(Shak.), plants in general, or the vegetable kingdom;Plantā′tion, a place planted: a wood or grove: (U.S.) a large estate: a colony: act or process of introduction: (Milt.) the act of planting;Plant′er, one who plants or introduces: the owner of a plantation;Plant′-house, a garden structure designed for the protection and cultivation of the plants of warmer climates than our own;Plant′icle, a young plant;Plant′ing, the act of setting in the ground for growth: the art of forming plantations of trees: a plantation.—adj.Plant′less, destitute of vegetation.—ns.Plant′let, a little plant;Plant′-louse, a small homopterous insect which infests plants;Plant′ule, the embryo of a plant. [A.S.plante(Fr.plante)—L.planta, a shoot, a plant.]
Plantain, plan′tān,n.an important food-plant of tropical countries, so called from its broad leaf: a common roadside plant of several species, with broad leaves and seed-bearing spikes.—Plantain eater, one of a family of African, arboreal, vegetarian Pie-like birds. [Fr.,—L.plantago,plantaginis.]
Plantigrade, plant′i-grād,adj.that walks on the sole of the foot.—n.a plantigrade animal, as the bear.—adj.Plant′ar, pertaining to the sole of the foot. [L.planta, the sole,gradi, to walk.]
Planula, plan′ū-la,n.the locomotory embryo of the cœlenterates.—adjs.Plan′ular;Plan′uliform;Plan′uloid.
Planuria, plā-nū′ri-a,n.the discharge of urine through an abnormal passage, uroplania.—AlsoPlan′ury.
Plap, plap,v.i.to plash, fall with plashing sound. [Imit.]
Plaque, plak,n.a flat piece of metal or other material, used for ornament, as a brooch, &c., or for painting on, to form a wall-picture.—n.Plaquette′, a small plaque. [Fr.; cf.Plack.]
Plash, plash,v.t.to bind and interweave the branches of.—v.i.to bend down a branch.—n.a small branch of a tree partly cut and bound to or twisted among other branches.—n.Plash′ing, a mode of repairing a hedge by bending the branches and twisting them about each other. [O. Fr.plassier—L.plexus—plectĕre, to twist.]
Plash, plash,n.a dash of water: a puddle: a shallow pool: a splashing sound: a sudden downpour: a flash.—v.i.to dabble in water: to splash.—v.t.to sprinkle with colouring matter, as a wall.—adj.Plash′y, full of puddles: watery. [Imit.]
Plasm, plazm,n.a mould or matrix: protoplasm—alsoPlas′ma.—adjs.Plasmat′ic,-al, plastic, formative;Plas′mic, pertaining to plasma, protoplasmic.—ns.Plasmō′dium, composite masses of primitive protozoa, in which numerous units are fused, or in rare cases simply combined in close contact;Plas′mogen, true protoplasm;Plasmog′ony, the generation of an organism from plasma;Plasmol′ogy, minute or microscopic anatomy, histology.—v.t.Plas′molyse.—n.Plasmol′ysis, the contraction of the protoplasm in active cells under the action of certain reagents.—adj.Plasmolyt′ic.
Plasma, plas′ma,n.a green variety of translucent quartz or silica.—adj.Plas′mic. [Gr.,—plassein, to form.]
Plaster, plas′tėr,n.something that can be moulded into figures: a composition of lime, water, and sand for overlaying walls, &c.: (med.) a medicinal agent consisting of an adhesive substance spread upon cloth or leather, so as to stick to the part of the body to which it is applied.—adj.made of plaster.—v.t.to cover with plaster: to cover with a plaster, as a wound: to besmear: (fig.) to smooth over.—ns.Plas′terer, one who plasters, or one who works in plaster;Plas′tering, the art of covering the internal faces of walls, the partitions and ceiling of a building, with plaster: a covering of plaster: the plasterwork of a building;Plas′ter-stone, gypsum.—adj.Plas′tery, like plaster, containing plaster.—Plaster cast, a copy of an object got by pouring a mixture of plaster of Paris and water into a mould formed from the object;Plaster of Paris, a kind of gypsum, originally found nearParis, used in building and in making casts of figures;Porous plaster, a plaster for application to the body, full of small holes, which prevent it from wrinkling. [A.S.plaster—O. Fr.emplastre—L.emplastrum—Gr.emplastron.]
Plastic, plas′tik,adj.having power to give form to: capable of being moulded: of or pertaining to moulding.—ns.Plastic′ity, state or quality of being plastic;Plastilī′na, a modelling clay which remains soft and plastic for a considerable time;Plastog′raphy, imitation of handwriting. [Gr.plastikos—plassein, to mould.]