Defn: To make a raid for booty; to maraud; also, to skirmish in advance of an army. See Picaroon. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.
PICKEERERPick*eer"er, n.
Defn: One who pickeers. [Obs.]
PICKERPick"er, n. Etym: [From Pick.]
1. One who, or that which, picks, in any sense, — as, one who uses a pick; one who gathers; a thief; a pick; a pickax; as, a cotton picker. "Pickers and stealers." Shak.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A machine for picking fibrous materials to pieces so as to loosen and separate the fiber.
3. (Weaving)
Defn: The piece in a loom which strikes the end of the shuttle, and impels it through the warp.
4. (Ordnance)
Defn: A priming wire for cleaning the vent.
PICKERELPick"er*el, n. Etym: [Dim. of Pike.] [Written also pickerell.]
1. A young or small pike. [Obs.] Bet [better] is, quoth he, a pike than a pickerel. Chaucer.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of freshwater fishes of the genus Esox, esp. the smaller species. (b) The glasseye, or wall-eyed pike. See Wall-eye.
Note: The federation, or chain, pickerel (Esox reticulatus) and the brook pickerel (E. Americanus) are the most common American species. They are used for food, and are noted for their voracity. About the Great Lakes the pike is called pickerel. Pickerel weed (Bot.), a blue-flowered aquatic plant (Pontederia cordata) having large arrow- shaped leaves. So called because common in slow-moving waters where pickerel are often found.
PICKERINGPick"er*ing, n. Etym: [Probably a corruption of Pickerel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sauger of the St.Lawrence River.
PICKERYPick"er*y, n. Etym: [From Pick to steal; or perhaps from Pickeer.]
Defn: Petty theft. [Scot.] Holinshed.
PICKETPick"et, n. Etym: [F. piquet, properly dim. of pique spear, pike. SeePike, and cf. Piquet.]
1. A stake sharpened or pointed, especially one used in fortification and encampments, to mark bounds and angles; or one used for tethering horses.
2. A pointed pale, used in marking fences.
3. Etym: [Probably so called from the picketing of the horses.] (Mil.)
Defn: A detached body of troops serving to guard an army from surprise, and to oppose reconnoitering parties of the enemy; — called also outlying picket.
4. By extension, men appointed by a trades union, or other labor organization, to intercept outsiders, and prevent them from working for employers with whom the organization is at variance. [Cant]
5. A military punishment, formerly resorted to, in which the offender was forced to stand with one foot on a pointed stake.
6. A game at cards. See Piquet. Inlying picket (Mil.), a detachment of troops held in camp or quarters, detailed to march if called upon. — Picket fence, a fence made of pickets. See def. 2, above. — Picket guard (Mil.), a guard of horse and foot, always in readiness in case of alarm. — Picket line. (Mil.) (a) A position held and guarded by small bodies of men placed at intervals. (b) A rope to which horses are secured when groomed. — Picketpin, an iron pin for picketing horses.
PICKETPick"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Picketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Picketing.]
1. To fortify with pointed stakes.
2. To inclose or fence with pickets or pales.
3. To tether to, or as to, a picket; as, to picket a horse.
4. To guard, as a camp or road, by an outlying picket.
5. To torture by compelling to stand with one foot on a pointed stake. [Obs.]
PICKETEEPick`e*tee", n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Picotee.
PICK-FAULTPick"-fault`, n.
Defn: One who seeks out faults.
PICKINGPick"ing, n.
1. The act of digging or breaking up, as with a pick.
2. The act of choosing, plucking, or gathering.
3. That which is, or may be, picked or gleaned.
4. Pilfering; also, that which is pilfered.
5. pl.
Defn: The pulverized shells of oysters used in making walks. [Eng.]Simmonds.
6. (Mining)
Defn: Rough sorting of ore.
7. Overburned bricks. Simmonds.
PICKINGPick"ing, a.
1. Done or made as with a pointed tool; as, a picking sound.
2. Nice; careful. [Obs.] was too warm on picking work to dwell. Dryden. Picking peg. (Weaving) See Picker, n., 3.
PICKLEPic"kle, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Picle.
PICKLE Pic"kle, n. Etym: [Cf. D. pekel. Probably a dim. fr. Pick, v. t., alluding to the cleaning of the fish.]
1. (a) A solution of salt and water, in which fish, meat, etc., may be preserved or corned; brine. (b) Vinegar, plain or spiced, used for preserving vegetables, fish, eggs, oysters, etc.
2. Any article of food which has been preserved in brine or in vinegar.
3. (Founding)
Defn: A bath of dilute sulphuric or nitric acid, etc., to remove burnt sand, scale rust, etc., from the surface of castings, or other articles of metal, or to brighten them or improve their color.
4. A troublesome child; as, a little pickle. [Colloq.] To be in a pickle, to be in disagreeable position; to be in a condition of embarrassment, difficulty, or disorder. "How cam'st thou in this pickle" Shak. — To put a rod in pickle, to prepare a particular reproof, punishment, or penalty for future application.
PICKLEPic"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pickled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pickling.]
1. To preserve or season in pickle; to treat with some kind of pickle; as, to pickle herrings or cucumbers.
2. To give an antique appearance to; — said of copies or imitations of paintings by the old masters.
PICKLEDPic"kled, a.
Defn: Preserved in a pickle.
PICKLE-HERRINGPic"kle-her"ring, n.
1. A herring preserved in brine; a pickled herring. [Obs.] Shak.
2. A merry-andrew; a buffoon. [Obs.] Addison.
PICKLERPic"kler, n.
Defn: One who makes pickles.
PICKLOCKPick"lock`, n.
1. An instrument for picking locks. Shak.
2. One who picks locks; a thief. "A picklock of secrets." Jer. Taylor.
PICK-ME-UPPick"-me-up`, n.
Defn: A stimulant, restorative, or tonic; a bracer. [Colloq.]
PICKMIRE Pick"mire`, n. Etym: [So called from its picking its food from the mire.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pewit, or black-headed gull. [Prov. Eng.]
PICKNICKPick"nick, n.
Defn: See Picnic.
PICKPACKPick"pack`, adv.
Defn: Pickaback.
PICKPENNYPick"pen`ny, n.; pl. Pickpennies (.
Defn: A miser; also, a sharper. Dr. H. More.
PICKPOCKETPick"pock`et, n.
Defn: One who steals purses or other articles from pockets. Bentley.
PICKPURSEPick"purse`, n.
Defn: One who steals purses, or money from purses. Latimer. Shak.
PICKSYPick"sy, n.
Defn: See Pixy.
PICKTHANKPick"thank`, n.
Defn: One who strives to put another under obligation; an officious person; hence, a flatterer. Used also adjectively. Smiling pickthanks, and base newsmongers. Shak.
PICKTOOTHPick"tooth`, n.
Defn: A toothpick. [Obs.] Swift.
PICK-UP; PICKUPPick"-up, or Pick"up`, n. [Colloq., Cant. or Slang]
1. Act of picking up, as, in various games, the fielding or hitting of a ball just after it strikes the ground.
2. That which picks up; specif.: (Elec.)
Defn: = Brush b.
3. One that is picked up, as a meal hastily got up for the occasion, a chance acquaintance, an informal game, etc.
PICLE; PICKLEPi"cle, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. pightel or pingle.]
Defn: A small piece of land inclosed with a hedge; a close. [Obs.][Written also pickle.]
PI CLOTHPi"ña cloth`.
Defn: A fine material for ladies' shawls, scarfs, handkerchiefs, etc., made from the fiber of the pineapple leaf, and perhaps from other fibrous tropical leaves. It is delicate, soft, and transparent, with a slight tinge of pale yellow.
PI CLOTHPi`ña cloth. [See Piña.]
Defn: A fine fabric for scarfs, handkerchiefs, embroidery, etc., woven from the fiber obtained from the leaf of the sterile pineapple plant. It is delicate, soft, and transparent, with a tinge of pale yellow.
PICNICPic"nic, n. Etym: [Cf. F. piquenique. See Pick, v., and cf.Knickknack.]
Defn: Formerly, an entertainment at which each person contributed some dish to a common table; now, an excursion or pleasure party in which the members partake of a collation or repast (usually in the open air, and from food carried by themselves).
PICNICPic"nic, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Picnicked; p. pr. & vb. n. Picnicking.]
Defn: To go on a picnic, or pleasure excursion; to eat in public fashion.
PICNICKERPic"nick*er, n.
Defn: One who takes part in a picnic.
PICOIDPi"coid, a. Etym: [Picus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Pici.
PICOLINEPic"o*line, n. Etym: [L. pix, picis, pitch + oleum oil + -ine.](Chem.)
Defn: Any one of three isometric bases (C6H7N) related to pyridine, and obtained from bone oil, acrolein ammonia, and coal-tar naphtha, as colorless mobile liquids of strong odor; — called also methyl pyridine.
PICOTPi`cot", n. [F.]
Defn: One of many small loops, as of thread, forming an ornamental border, as on a ribbon.
PICOTEE; PICOTINEPic`o*tee", Pic`o*tine", n. Etym: [F. picoté dotted, picked.] (Bot.)
Defn: A variety of carnation having petals of a light color variously dotted and spotted at the edges.
PICQUETPic"quet, n.
Defn: See Piquet.
PICRAPi"cra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The powder of aloes with canella, formerly officinal, employed as a cathartic.
PICRATEPi"crate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of picric acid.
PICRICPi"cric, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a strong organic acid (called picric acid), intensely bitter.
Note: Picric acid is obtained by treating phenol with strong nitric acid, as a brilliant yellow crystalline substance, C6H2(NO2)3.OH. It is used in dyeing silk and wool, and also in the manufacture of explosives, as it is very unstable when heated. Called also trinitrophenol, and formerly carbazotic acid.
PICRITEPic"rite, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A dark green igneous rock, consisting largely of chrysolite, with hornblende, augite, biotite, etc.
PICROLITEPic"ro*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.: cf. F. picrolithe.] (Min.)
Defn: A fibrous variety of serpentine.
PICROMELPic"ro*mel, n. Etym: [Gr. picromel.] (Old Chem.)
Defn: A colorless viscous substance having a bitter-sweet taste.
Note: It was formerly supposed to be the essential principle of the bile, but is now known to be a mixture, principally of salts of glycocholic and taurocholic acids.
PICROTOXINPic`ro*tox"in, n. Etym: [Gr. toxic + -in.] (Chem.)
Defn: A bitter white crystalline substance found in the cocculus indicus. It is a peculiar poisonous neurotic and intoxicant, and consists of a mixture of several neutral substances.
PICRYLPi"cryl, n. Etym: [Picric + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The hypothetical radical of picric acid, analogous to phenyl.
PICTISHPict"ish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Picts; resembling the Picts. "The Pictish peer." Byron.
PICTOGRAPHPic"to*graph, n. Etym: [See Picture, and -graph.]
Defn: A picture or hieroglyph representing and expressing an idea.— Pic`to*graph"ic, a.
PICTORIAL Pic*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. pictorius, fr. pictor a painter, fr. pingere to paint. See Paint.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to pictures; illustrated by pictures; forming pictures; representing with the clearness of a picture; as, a pictorial dictionary; a pictorial imagination. "Pictorial rhetoric." Ruskin. — Pic*to"ri*al*ly, adv.
PICTORIC; PICTORICALPic*tor"ic, Pic*tor"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pictorial. [Obs.]
PICTSPicts, n. pl.; sing. Pict (. Etym: [L. Picti; cf. AS. Peohtas.](Ethnol.)
Defn: A race of people of uncertain origin, who inhabited Scotland in early times.
PICTURAPic*tu"ra, n. Etym: [L., a painting.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pattern of coloration.
PICTURABLEPic"tur*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being pictured, or represented by a picture.
PICTURALPic"tur*al, a.
Defn: Pictorial. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
PICTURALPic"tur*al, n.
Defn: A picture. [Obs.] Spenser.
PICTURE Pic"ture, n. Etym: [L. pictura, fr. pingere, pictum, to paint: cf. F. peinture. See Paint.]
1. The art of painting; representation by painting. [Obs.] Any well-expressed image . . . either in picture or sculpture. Sir H. Wotton.
2. A representation of anything (as a person, a landscape, a building) upon canvas, paper, or other surface, produced by means of painting, drawing, engraving, photography, etc.; a representation in colors. By extension, a figure; a model. Pictures and shapes are but secondary objects. Bacon. The young king's picture . . . in virgin wax. Howell.
3. An image or resemblance; a representation, either to the eye or to the mind; that which, by its likeness, brings vividly to mind some other thing; as, a child is the picture of his father; the man is the picture of grief. My eyes make pictures when they are shut. Coleridge.
Note: Picture is often used adjectively, or in forming self- explaining compounds; as, picture book or picture-book, picture frame or picture-frame, picture seller or picture-seller, etc. Picture gallery, a gallery, or large apartment, devoted to the exhibition of pictures. — Picture red, a rod of metal tube fixed to the walls of a room, from which pictures are hung. — Picture writing. (a) The art of recording events, or of expressing messages, by means of pictures representing the actions or circumstances in question. Tylor. (b) The record or message so represented; as, the picture writing of the American Indians.
Syn. — Picture, Painting. Every kind of representation by drawing or painting is a picture, whether made with oil colors, water colors, pencil, crayons, or India ink; strictly, a painting is a picture made by means of colored paints, usually applied moist with a brush.
PICTUREPic"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pictured; p. pr. & vb. n. Picturing.]
Defn: To draw or paint a resemblance of; to delineate; to represent; to form or present an ideal likeness of; to bring before the mind. "I . . . do picture it in my mind." Spenser. I have not seen him so pictured. Shak.
PICTUREDPic"tured, a.
Defn: Furnished with pictures; represented by a picture or pictures; as, a pictured scene.
PICTURERPic"tur*er, n.
Defn: One who makes pictures; a painter. [R.] Fuller.
PICTURESQUEPic`tur*esque", a. Etym: [It. pittoresco: cf. F. pittoresque. SeePictorial.]
Defn: Forming, or fitted to form, a good or pleasing picture; representing with the clearness or ideal beauty appropriate to a picture; expressing that peculiar kind of beauty which is agreeable in a picture, natural or artificial; graphic; vivid; as, a picturesque scene or attitude; picturesque language. What is picturesque as placed in relation to the beautiful and the sublime It is . . . the characteristic pushed into a sensible excess. De Quincey. — Pic`tur*esque"ly, adv. — Pic`tur*esque"ness, n.
PICTURESQUISHPic`tur*esqu"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat picturesque. [R.]
PICTURIZEPic"tur*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Picturized; p. pr. & vb. n.Picturizing.] [R.]
1. To picture.
2. To adorn with pictures.
PICUL Pic"ul, n. Etym: [Jav. & Malay pikul, fr. pikul to carry on the back, to carry a burden; n., a man's burden.]
Defn: A commercial weight varying in different countries and for different commodities. In Borneo it is 135tan. [Written also pecul, and pecal.]
PICULETPic"u*let, n. Etym: [Dim. of Picus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of very small woodpeckers of the genus Picumnus and allied genera. Their tail feathers are not stiff and sharp at the tips, as in ordinary woodpeckers.
PICUSPi"cus, n.; pl. Pici. Etym: [L., a woodpecker.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of woodpeckers, including some of the common American and European species.
PIDDLEPid"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Piddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Piddling.]Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. pittla to keep picking at, Sw. peta to pick.]
1. To deal in trifles; to concern one's self with trivial matters rather than with those that are important. Ascham.
2. To be squeamishly nice about one's food. Swift.
3. To urinate; — child's word.
PIDDLERPid"dler, n.
Defn: One who piddles.
PIDDLINGPid"dling, a.
Defn: Trifling; trivial; frivolous; paltry; — applied to persons andthings.The ignoble hucksterage of piddling tithes. Milton.
PIDDOCKPid"dock, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of Pholas; a pholad. See Pholas.
PIE Pie, n. Etym: [OE. pie, pye; cf. Ir. & Gael. pighe pie, also Gael. pige an earthen jar or pot. Cf. Piggin.]
1. An article of food consisting of paste baked with something in it or under it; as, chicken pie; venison pie; mince pie; apple pie; pumpkin pie.
2. See Camp, n., 5. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. Pie crust, the paste of a pie.
PIEPie, n. Etym: [F. pie, L. pica; cf. picus woodpecker, pingere topaint; the bird being perhaps named from its colors. Cf. Pi, Paint,Speight.]
1. (Zoöl.) (a) A magpie. (b) Any other species of the genus Pica, and of several allied genera. [Written also pye.]
2. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: The service book.
3. (Pritn.)
Defn: Type confusedly mixed. See Pi. By cock and pie, an adjurationequivalent to "by God and the service book." Shak.— Tree pie (Zoöl.), any Asiatic bird of the genus Dendrocitta,allied to the magpie.— Wood pie. (Zoöl.) See French pie, under French.
PIEPie, v. t.
Defn: See Pi.
PIEBALDPie"bald`, a. Etym: [Pie the party-colored bird + bald.]
1. Having spots and patches of black and white, or other colors; mottled; pied. "A piebald steed of Thracian strain." Dryden.
2. Fig.: Mixed. "Piebald languages." Hudibras.
PIECE Piece, n. Etym: [OE. pece, F. pièce, LL. pecia, petia, petium, probably of Celtic origin; cf. W. peth a thing, a part, portion, a little, Armor. pez, Gael. & Ir. cuid part, share. Cf. Petty.]
1. A fragment or part of anything separated from the whole, in any manner, as by cutting, splitting, breaking, or tearing; a part; a portion; as, a piece of sugar; to break in pieces. Bring it out piece by piece. Ezek. xxiv. 6.
2. A definite portion or quantity, as of goods or work; as, a piece of broadcloth; a piece of wall paper.
3. Any one thing conceived of as apart from other things of the same kind; an individual article; a distinct single effort of a series; a definite performance; especially: (a) A literary or artistic composition; as, a piece of poetry, music, or statuary. (b) A musket, gun, or cannon; as, a battery of six pieces; a following piece. (c) A coin; as, a sixpenny piece; — formerly applied specifically to an English gold coin worth 22 shillings. (d) A fact; an item; as, a piece of news; a piece of knowledge.
4. An individual; — applied to a person as being of a certain nature or quality; often, but not always, used slightingly or in contempt. "If I had not been a piece of a logician before I came to him." Sir P. Sidney. Thy mother was a piece of virtue. Shak. His own spirit is as unsettled a piece as there is in all the world. Coleridge. a piece of cake, a task easily accomplished. a piece of work, a disparaging term for a person considered to have an excess of some undesirable quality; esp. difficult or eccentric person. Piece of ass vulgar term for a woman, considered as a partner in sexual intercourse
5. (Chess)
Defn: One of the superior men, distinguished from a pawn.
6. A castle; a fortified building. [Obs.] Spenser. Of a piece, of the same sort, as if taken from the same whole; like; — sometimes followed by with. Dryden. — Piece of eight, the Spanish piaster, formerly divided into eight reals. — To give a piece of one's mind to, to speak plainly, bluntly, or severely to (another). Tackeray. — Piece broker, one who buys shreds and remnants of cloth to sell again. — Piece goods, goods usually sold by pieces or fixed portions, as shirtings, calicoes, sheetings, and the like.
PIECEPiece, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pieced; p. pr. & vb. n. Piecing.]
1. To make, enlarge, or repair, by the addition of a piece or pieces; to patch; as, to piece a garment; — often with out. Shak.
2. To unite; to join; to combine. Fuller. His adversaries . . . pieced themselves together in a joint opposition against him. Fuller.
PIECEPiece, v. i.
Defn: To unite by a coalescence of parts; to fit together; to join."It pieced better." Bacon.
PIECELESSPiece"less, a.
Defn: Not made of pieces; whole; entire.
PIECELYPiece"ly, adv.
Defn: In pieces; piecemeal. [Obs.]
PIECEMEAL Piece"meal`, adv. Etym: [OE. pecemele; pece a piece + AS. m, dat. pl. of m part. See Meal a portion.]
1. In pieces; in parts or fragments. "On which it piecemeal brake." Chapman. The beasts will tear thee piecemeal. Tennyson.
2. Piece by piece; by little and little in succession. Piecemeal they win, this acre first, than that. Pope.
PIECEMEALPiece"meal`, a.
Defn: Made up of parts or pieces; single; separate. "These piecemeal guilts." Gov. of Tongue.
PIECEMEALPiece"meal`, n.
Defn: A fragment; a scrap. R. Vaughan.
PIECEMEALEDPiece"mealed`, a.
Defn: Divided into pieces.
PIECENERPiece"ner, n.
1. One who supplies rolls of wool to the slubbing machine in woolen mills.
2. Same as Piecer, 2.
PIECERPie"cer, n.
1. One who pieces; a patcher.
2. A child employed in spinning mill to tie together broken threads.
PIECEWORKPiece"work`, n.
Defn: Work done by the piece or job; work paid for at a rate based on the amount of work done, rather than on the time employed. The reaping was piecework, at so much per acre. R. Jefferies.
PIEDPied,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Pi, or Pie, v.
PIEDPied, a. Etym: [From Pie the party-colored bird.]
Defn: Variegated with spots of different colors; party-colored;spotted; piebald. "Pied coats." Burton. "Meadows trim with daisiespied." Milton. Pied antelope (Zoöl.), the bontebok.— Pied-billed grebe (Zoöl.), the dabchick.— Pied blackbird (Zoöl.), any Asiatic thrush of the genus Turdulus.— Pied finch (Zoöl.) (a) The chaffinch. (b) The snow bunting.[Prov. Eng.] — Pied flycatcher (Zoöl.), a common European flycatcher(Ficedula atricapilla). The male is black and white.
PIEDMONTPied"mont, a. Etym: [F. pied foot + mont mountain.] (Geol.)
Defn: Noting the region of foothills near the base of a mountain chain.
PIEDMONTITEPied"mont*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A manganesian kind of epidote, from Piedmont. See Epidote.
PIEDNESSPied"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being pied. Shak.
PIEDOUCHEPié`douche", n. Etym: [F., fr. It. peduccio console, corbel.]
Defn: A pedestal of small size, used to support small objects, as busts, vases, and the like.
PIEDSTALLPied"stall, n.
Defn: See Pedestal. [Obs.]
PIEMANPie"man, n.; pl. Piemen (.
Defn: A man who makes or sells pies.
PIENDPiend, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. pind a peg.]
Defn: See Peen.
PIENOPi*e"no, a. Etym: [It., fr. L. plenus full.] (Mus.)
Defn: Full; having all the instruments.
PIEPLANTPie"plant`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Rheum Rhaponticum) the leafstalks of which are acid, and are used in making pies; the garden rhubarb.
PIEPOUDRE; PIEPOWDER Pie"pou`dre, Pie"pow`der, n. Etym: [Lit., dustyfoot, i.e., dusty- footed dealers, fr. F. pied foot + poudreux dusty.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: An ancient court of record in England, formerly incident to every fair and market, of which the steward of him who owned or had the toll was the judge. Blackstone.
PIERPier, n. Etym: [OE. pere, OF. piere a stone, F. pierre, fr. L. petra,Gr. Petrify.]
1. (Arch.) (a) Any detached mass of masonry, whether insulated or supporting one side of an arch or lintel, as of a bridge; the piece of wall between two openings. (b) Any additional or auxiliary mass of masonry used to stiffen a wall. See Buttress.
2. A projecting wharf or landing place. Abutment pier, the pier of a bridge next the shore; a pier which by its strength and stability resists the thrust of an arch. — Pier glass, a mirror, of high and narrow shape, to be put up between windows. — Pier table, a table made to stand between windows.
PIERAGEPier"age, n.
Defn: Same as Wharfage. Smart.
PIERCE Pierce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pierced; p. pr. & vb. n. Piercing.] Etym: [OE. percen, F. percer, OF. percier, perchier, parchier; perh. fr. (assumed) LL. pertusiare for pertusare, fr. L. pertundere, pertusum, to beat, push, bore through; per through + tundere to beat: cf. OF. pertuisier to pierce, F. pertuis a hole. Cf. Contuse, Parch, Pertuse.]
1. To thrust into, penetrate, or transfix, with a pointed instrument. "I pierce . . . her tender side." Dryden.
2. To penetrate; to enter; to force a way into or through; to pass into or through; as, to pierce the enemy's line; a shot pierced the ship.
3. Fig.: To penetrate; to affect deeply; as, to pierce a mystery. "Pierced with grief." Pope. Can no prayers pierce thee Shak.
PIERCEPierce, v. i.
Defn: To enter; to penetrate; to make a way into or throughsomething, as a pointed instrument does; — used literally andfiguratively.And pierced to the skin, but bit no more. Spenser.She would not pierce further into his meaning. Sir P. Sidney.
PIERCEABLEPierce"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be pierced.
PIERCEDPierced, a.
Defn: Penetrated; entered; perforated.
PIERCELPier"cel, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perce.]
Defn: A kind of gimlet for making vents in casks; — called also piercer.
PIERCERPier"cer, n.
1. One who, or that which, pierces or perforates; specifically: (a) An instrument used in forming eyelets; a stiletto. (b) A piercel.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The ovipositor, or sting, of an insect. (b) An insect provided with an ovipositor.
PIERCINGPier"cing, a.
Defn: Forcibly entering, or adapted to enter, at or by a point; perforating; penetrating; keen; — used also figuratively; as, a piercing instrument, or thrust. "Piercing eloquence." Shak. — Pier"cing*ly, adv. — Pier"cing*ness, n.
PIERIAN Pi*e"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Pierius, from Mount Pierus, in Thessaly, sacred to the Muses.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Pierides or Muses.Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Pope.
PIERIDPi"er*id, n. Etym: [See Peirides.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any butterfly of the genus Pieris and related genera. SeeCabbage butterfly, under Cabbage.
PIERIDESPi*er"i*des, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Pierian.] (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The Muses.
PIERRE-PERDUPierre`-per`du", n. [F. pierre perdue lost stone.]
Defn: Blocks of stone or concrete heaped loosely in the water to make a foundation (as for a sea wall), a mole, etc.
PIET Pi"et, n. Etym: [Dim. of Pie a magpie: cf. F. piette a smew.] (Zoöl.) (a) The dipper, or watter ouzel. [Scot.] (b) The magpie. [Prov.Eng.] Jay piet (Zoöl.), the European jay. [Prov.Eng.] — Sea piet (Zoöl.), the oyster catcher. [Prov.Eng.]
PIETAPi*e*tà", n. Etym: [It.] (Fine Arts)
Defn: A representation of the dead Christ, attended by the VirginMary or by holy women and angels. Mollett.
PIETISMPi"e*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. G. pietismus, F. piétisme.]
1. The principle or practice of the Pietists.
2. Strict devotion; also, affectation of devotion. The Schöne Seele, that ideal of gentle pietism, in "Wilhelm Meister." W. Pater.
PIETISTPi"e*tist, n. Etym: [Cf. G. pietist, F. piétiste. See Piety.] (Eccl.Hist.)
Defn: One of a class of religious reformers in Germany in the 17th century who sought to revive declining piety in the Protestant churches; — often applied as a term of reproach to those who make a display of religious feeling. Also used adjectively.
PIETISTIC; PIETISTICALPi`e*tis"tic, Pi`e*tis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Pietists; hence, in contempt, affectedly or demonstratively religious. Addison.
PIETRA DURAPi*e"tra du"ra. Etym: [It., hard stone.] (Fine Arts)
Defn: Hard and fine stones in general, such as are used for inlay and the like, as distinguished from the softer stones used in building; thus, a Florentine mosaic is a familiar instance of work in pietra dura, though the ground may be soft marble.
PIETY Pi"e*ty, n. Etym: [F. piété; cf. It. pietà; both fr. L. pietas piety, fr. pius pious. See Pious, and cf. Pity.]
1. Veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being, and love of his character; loving obedience to the will of God, and earnest devotion to his service. Piety is the only proper and adequate relief of decaying man. Rambler.
2. Duty; dutifulness; filial reverence and devotion; affectionate reverence and service shown toward parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc. Conferred upon me for the piety Which to my country I was judged to have shown. Milton.
Syn.— Religion; sanctity; devotion; godliness; holiness. See Religion.
PIEWIPEPie"wipe`, n. Etym: [So called from its note.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lapwing, or pewit. [Prov. Eng.]
PIEZOMETERPi`e*zom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. piézomètre.]
1. (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the compressibility of liquids.
2. (Physics)
Defn: A gauge connected with a water main to show the pressure at that point.
PIFFERO; PIFFARAPif"fe*ro, Pif"fa*ra, n. Etym: [It. piffero.] (Mus.)
Defn: A fife; also, a rude kind of oboe or a bagpipe with an inflated skin for reservoir.
PIFFLEPif"fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Piffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Piffling.]
Defn: To be sequeamish or delicate; hence, to act or talk triflingly or ineffectively; to twaddle; piddle. [Dial. or Slang]
PIFFLEPif"fle, n.
Defn: Act of piffling; trifling talk or action; piddling; twaddle.[Dial. or Slang] "Futile piffle." Kipling.
PIGPig, n.
Defn: A piggin. [Written also pigg.]
PIG Pig, n. Etym: [Cf. D. big, bigge, LG. bigge, also Dan. pige girl, Sw. piga, Icel. pika.]
1. The young of swine, male or female; also, any swine; a hog. "Two pigges in a poke." Chaucer.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any wild species of the genus Sus and related genera.
3. Etym: [Cf. Sow a channel for melted iron.]
Defn: An oblong mass of cast iron, lead, or other metal. See Mine pig, under Mine.
4. One who is hoggish; a greedy person. [Low] Masked pig. (Zoöl.) See under Masked. — Pig bed (Founding), the bed of sand in which the iron from a smelting furnace is cast into pigs. — Pig iron, cast iron in pigs, or oblong blocks or bars, as it comes from the smelting furnace. See Pig, 4. — Pig yoke (Naut.), a nickname for a quadrant or sextant. — A pig in a poke (that is, bag), a blind bargain; something bought or bargained for, without the quality or the value being known. [Colloq.]
PIGPig, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Pigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Pigging.]
1. To bring forth (pigs); to bring forth in the manner of pigs; to farrow.
2. To huddle or lie together like pigs, in one bed.
PIGEON Pi"geon, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. pipio a young pipping or chirping bird, fr. pipire to peep, chirp. Cf. Peep to chirp.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of the order Columbæ, of which numerous species occur in nearly all parts of the world.
Note: The common domestic pigeon, or dove, was derived from the Old World rock pigeon (Columba livia). It has given rise to numerous very remarkable varieties, such as the carrier, fantail, nun, pouter, tumbler, etc. The common wild pigeons of the Eastern United States are the passenger pigeon, and the Carolina dove. See under Passenger, and Dove. See, also, Fruit pigeon, Ground pigeon, Queen pigeon, Stock pigeon, under Fruit, Ground, etc.
2. An unsuspected victim of sharpers; a gull. [Slang] Blue pigeon (Zoöl.), an Australian passerine bird (Graucalus melanops); — called also black-faced crow. — Green pigeon (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of Old World pigeons belonging to the family Treronidæ. — Imperial pigeon (Zoöl.), any one of the large Asiatic fruit pigeons of the genus Carpophada. — Pigeon berry (Bot.), the purplish black fruit of the pokeweed; also, the plant itself. See Pokeweed. — Pigeon English Etym: [perhaps a corruption of business English], an extraordinary and grotesque dialect, employed in the commercial cities of China, as the medium of communication between foreign merchants and the Chinese. Its base is English, with a mixture of Portuguese and Hindoostanee. Johnson's Cyc. — Pigeon grass (Bot.), a kind of foxtail grass (Setaria glauca), of some value as fodder. The seeds are eagerly eaten by pigeons and other birds. — Pigeon hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) A small American falcon (Falco columbarius). The adult male is dark slate-blue above, streaked with black on the back; beneath, whitish or buff, streaked with brown. The tail is banded. (b) The American sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter velox, or fuscus). — Pigeon hole. (a) A hole for pigeons to enter a pigeon house. (b) See Pigeonhole. (c) pl. An old English game, in which balls were rolled through little arches. Halliwell. — Pigeon house, a dovecote. — Pigeon pea (Bot.), the seed of Cajanus Indicus; a kind of pulse used for food in the East and West Indies; also, the plant itself. — Pigeon plum (Bot.), the edible drupes of two West African species of Chrysobalanus (C. ellipticus and C. luteus). — Pigeon tremex. (Zoöl.) See under Tremex. — Pigeon wood (Bot.), a name in the West Indies for the wood of several very different kinds of trees, species of Dipholis, Diospyros, and Coccoloba. — Pigeon woodpecker (Zoöl.), the flicker. — Prairie pigeon. (Zoöl.) (a) The upland plover. (b) The golden plover. [Local, U.S.]
PIGEONPi"geon, v. t.
Defn: To pluck; to fleece; to swindle by tricks in gambling. [Slang]Smart.He's pigeoned and undone. Observer.
PIGEON-BREASTEDPi"geon-breast`ed, a.
Defn: Having a breast like a pigeon, — the sternum being so prominent as to constitute a deformity; chicken-breasted.
PIGEONFOOTPi"geon*foot`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The dove's-foot geranium (Geranium molle).
PIGEON-HEARTEDPi"geon-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Timid; easily frightened; chicken-hearted. Beau. & Fl.
PIGEONHOLEPi"geon*hole`, n.
Defn: A small compartment in a desk or case for the keeping of letters, documents, etc.; — so called from the resemblance of a row of them to the compartments in a dovecote. Burke.
PIGEONHOLEPi"geon*hole`, v. t.
Defn: To place in the pigeonhole of a case or cabinet; hence, to put away; to lay aside indefinitely; as, to pigeonhole a letter or a report.
PIGEON-LIVEREDPi"geon-liv`ered, a.
Defn: Pigeon-hearted.
PIGEONRYPi"geon*ry, n.
Defn: A place for pigeons; a dovecote.
PIGEONTOEDPi"geon*toed`, a.
Defn: Having the toes turned in.
PIGEONWINGPi"geon*wing`, n.
1. A wing of a pigeon, or a wing like it.
2. An old mode of dressing men's side hair in a form likened to a pigeon's wings; also, a wig similarly shaped.
3. (Dancing) A fancy step executed by jumping and striking the legs together; as, to cut a pigeonwing.
4. A certain fancy figure in skating.
5. (Tempering) A color, brown shaded with purple, coming between dark brown and light blue in the table of colors in drawing the temper of hardened steel.
PIG-EYEDPig"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having small, deep-set eyes.
PIGFISH Pig"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of salt-water grunts; — called also hogfish. (b) A sculpin. The name is also applied locally to several other fishes.
PIGFOOTPig"foot`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine fish (Scorpæna porcus), native of Europe. It is reddish brown, mottled with dark brown and black.
PIGGPigg, n.
Defn: A piggin. See 1st Pig. Sir W. Scott.
PIGGERYPig"ger*y, n.; pl. Piggeries (.
Defn: A place where swine are kept.
PIGGIN Pig"gin, n. Etym: [Scot.; cf. Gael. pigean, dim. of pigeadh, pige, an earthen jar, pitcher, or pot, Ir. pigin, pighead, W. piccyn.]
Defn: A small wooden pail or tub with an upright stave for a handle, — often used as a dipper.
PIGGISHPig"gish, a.
Defn: Relating to, or like, a pig; greedy.
PIG-HEADEDPig"-head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a head like a pig; hence, figuratively: stupidity obstinate; perverse; stubborn. B. Jonson. — Pig"-head`ed*ness, n.
PIGHTPight, imp. & p. p. of Pitch, to throw; — used also adjectively.
Defn: Pitched; fixed; determined. [Obs.][His horse] pight him on the pommel of his head. Chaucer.I found him pight to do it. Shak.
PIGHTELPigh"tel, n. Etym: [Cf. Pight, Picle.]
Defn: A small inclosure. [Written also pightle.] [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
PIG-JAWEDPig"-jawed`, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the upper jaw projecting beyond the lower, with the upper incisors in advance of the lower; — said of dogs.
PIGMEANPig*me"an, a.
Defn: See Pygmean.
PIGMENT Pig"ment, n. Etym: [L. pigmentum, fr. the root of pingere to paint: cf. F. pigment. See Paint, and cf. Pimento, Orpiment.]
1. Any material from which a dye, a paint, or the like, may be prepared; particularly, the refined and purified coloring matter ready for mixing with an appropriate vehicle.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Any one of the colored substances found in animal and vegetable tissues and fluids, as bilirubin, urobilin, chlorophyll, etc.
3. Wine flavored with species and honey. Sir W. Scott. Pigment cell (Physiol.), a small cell containing coloring matter, as the pigmented epithelial cells of the choroid and iris, or the pigmented connective tissue cells in the skin of fishes, reptiles, etc.
PIGMENTAL; PIGMENTARYPig*men"tal, Pig"men*ta*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to pigments; furnished with pigments. Dunglison. Pigmentary degeneration (Med.), a morbid condition in which an undue amount of pigment is deposited in the tissues.
PIGMENTATIONPig`men*ta"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: A deposition, esp. an excessive deposition, of coloring matter; as, pigmentation of the liver.
PIGMENTEDPig"ment*ed, a.
Defn: Colored; specifically (Biol.), filled or imbued with pigment; as, pigmented epithelial cells; pigmented granules.
PIGMENTOUSPig*men"tous, a.
Defn: Pigmental.
PIGMYPig"my, n.
Defn: See Pygmy. Pigmy falcon. (Zoöl.) Same as Falconet, 2 (a).
PIGNERATE Pig"ner*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. pigneratus, p.p. of pignerate to pledge.]
1. To pledge or pawn. [Obs.]
2. to receive in pawn, as a pawnbroker does. [Obs.]
PIGNORATION Pig`no*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. pignoratio, L. pigneratio, fr. pignerate to pledge, fr. pignus, gen. -ous and -eris, a pledge, a pawn: cf. F. pignoration.]
1. The act of pledging or pawning.
2. (Civil Law)
Defn: The taking of cattle doing damage, by way of pledge, till satisfaction is made. Burrill.
PIGNORATIVEPig"no*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pignoratif.]
Defn: Pledging, pawning. [R.]
PIGNUSPig"nus, n.; pl. Pignora. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Law)
Defn: A pledge or pawn.
PIGNUT Pig"nut, n. (Bot.) (a) See Groundnut (d). (b) The bitter-flavored nut of a species of hickory (Carya glabra, or porcina); also, the tree itself.
PIGPENPig"pen`, n.
Defn: A pen, or sty, for pigs.
PIGSKINPig"skin`, n.
Defn: The skin of a pig, — used chiefly for making saddles; hence, a colloquial or slang term for a saddle.
PIGSNEY Pigs"ney, n. Etym: [Perh. a dim. of Dan. pige a girl, or Sw. piga; or from E. pig's eye.]
Defn: A word of endearment for a girl or woman. [Obs.] [Written also pigsnie, pigsny, etc.] Chaucer.
PIG-STICKINGPig"-stick`ing, n.
Defn: Boar hunting; — so called by Anglo-Indians. [Colloq.]Tackeray.
PIGSTYPig"sty`, n.; pl. Pigsties (.
Defn: A pigpen.
PIGTAILPig"tail`, n.
1. The tail of a pig.
2. (Hair Dressing)
Defn: A cue, or queue. J. & H. Smith.
3. A kind of twisted chewing tobacco. The tobacco he usually cheweth, called pigtail. Swift.
PIGTAILEDPig"tailed`, a.
Defn: Having a tail like a pig's; as, the pigtailed baboon.
PIGWEEDPig"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A name of several annual weeds. See Goosefoot, and Lamb's- quarters.
PIGWIDGEONPig"wid`geon, n. Etym: [Written also pigwidgin and pigwiggen.]
Defn: A cant word for anything petty or small. It is used by Drayton as the name of a fairy.
PIKAPi"ka, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of rodents of the genus Lagomys,resembling small tailless rabbits. They inhabit the high mountains ofAsia and America. Called also calling hare, and crying hare. SeeChief hare.
PIKE Pike, n. Etym: [F. pique; perhaps of Celtic origin; cf. W. pig a prick, a point, beak, Arm. pik pick. But cf. also L. picus woodpecker (see Pie magpie), and E. spike. Cf. Pick, n. & v., Peak, Pique.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: A foot soldier's weapon, consisting of a long wooden shaft or staff, with a pointed steel head. It is now superseded by the bayonet.
2. A pointed head or spike; esp., one in the center of a shield or target. Beau. & Fl.
3. A hayfork. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser.
4. A pick. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. Raymond.
5. A pointed or peaked hill. [R.]
6. A large haycock. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
7. A turnpike; a toll bar. Dickens.
8. (Zoöl.) sing. & pl.
Defn: A large fresh-water fish (Esox lucius), found in Europe and America, highly valued as a food fish; — called also pickerel, gedd, luce, and jack.
Note: Blue pike, grass pike, green pike, wall-eyed pike, and yellowpike, are names, not of true pike, but of the wall-eye. See Wall-eye.Gar pike. See under Gar.— Pike perch (Zoöl.), any fresh-water fish of the genusStizostedion (formerly Lucioperca). See Wall-eye, and Sauger.— Pike pole, a long pole with a pike in one end, used in directingfloating logs.— Pike whale (Zoöl.), a finback whale of the North Atlantic(Balænoptera rostrata), having an elongated snout; — called alsopiked whale.— Sand pike (Zoöl.), the lizard fish.— Sea pike (Zoöl.), the garfish (a).
PIKEDPiked, a.
Defn: Furnished with a pike; ending in a point; peaked; pointed."With their piked targets bearing them down." Milton.
PIKE-DEVANT Pike`-de*vant", n. Etym: [Pike point (fr. F. pique) + F. devant before.]
Defn: A pointed beard. [Obs.]
PIKELET; PIKELINPike"let, Pike"lin, n.
Defn: A light, thin cake or muffin. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
PIKEMANPike"man, n.; pl. Pikeman (.
1. A soldier armed with a pike. Knolles.
2. A miner who works with a pick. Beaconsfield.
3. A keeper of a turnpike gate. T. Hughes.
PIKESTAFFPike"staff`, n.
1. The staff, or shaft, of a pike.
2. A staff with a spike in the lower end, to guard against slipping. Sir W. Scott.
PIKETAILPike"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Pintail, 1.
PIKROLITEPik"ro*lite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Picrolite.
PILAGEPi"lage, n.
Defn: See Pelage.
PILASTERPi*las"ter, n. Etym: [F. pilastre, It. pilastro, LL. pilastrum, fr.L. pila a pillar. See Pillar.] (Arch.)
Defn: An upright architectural member right-angled in plan, constructionally a pier (See Pier, 1 (b)), but architecturally corresponding to a column, having capital, shaft, and base to agree with those of the columns of the same order. In most cases the projection from the wall is one third of its width, or less.
PILASTEREDPi*las"tered, a.
Defn: Furnished with pilasters.
PILAUPi*lau", n.
Defn: See Pillau.
PILCHPilch, n. Etym: [AS. pylce, pylece, LL. pellicia. See Pelisse, andPelt skin.]
Defn: A gown or case of skin, or one trimmed or lined with fur.[Obs.]
PILCHARDPil"chard, n. Etym: [Cf. It. pilseir, W. pilcod minnows.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European food fish (Clupea pilchardus) resembling the herring, but thicker and rounder. It is sometimes taken in great numbers on the coast of England. Fools are as like husbands as pilchards are to herrings. Shak.
PILCHERPilch"er, n. Etym: [From Pilch.]
Defn: A scabbard, as of a sword. [Obs.] Shak.
PILCHERPilch"er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pilchard.
PILCROWPil"crow, n. Etym: [A corruption of Paragraph.] (Print.)
Defn: a paragraph mark, . [Obs.] Tusser.
PILEPile, n. Etym: [L. pilus hair. Cf. Peruke.]
1. A hair; hence, the fiber of wool, cotton, and the like; also, the nap when thick or heavy, as of carpeting and velvet. Velvet soft, or plush with shaggy pile. Cowper.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A covering of hair or fur.
PILEPile, n. Etym: [L. pilum javelin. See Pile a stake.]
Defn: The head of an arrow or spear. [Obs.] Chapman.
PILEPile, n. Etym: [AS. pil arrow, stake, L. pilum javelin; but cf. alsoL. pila pillar.]
1. A large stake, or piece of timber, pointed and driven into the earth, as at the bottom of a river, or in a harbor where the ground is soft, for the support of a building, a pier, or other superstructure, or to form a cofferdam, etc.
Note: Tubular iron piles are now much used.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. pile.] (Her.)
Defn: One of the ordinaries or subordinaries having the form of a wedge, usually placed palewise, with the broadest end uppermost. Pile bridge, a bridge of which the roadway is supported on piles. — Pile cap, a beam resting upon and connecting the heads of piles. — Pile driver, or Pile engine, an apparatus for driving down piles, consisting usually of a high frame, with suitable appliances for raising to a height (by animal or steam power, the explosion of gunpowder, etc.) a heavy mass of iron, which falls upon the pile. — Pile dwelling. See Lake dwelling, under Lake. — Pile plank (Hydraul. Eng.), a thick plank used as a pile in sheet piling. See Sheet piling, under Piling. — Pneumatic pile. See under Pneumatic. — Screw pile, one with a screw at the lower end, and sunk by rotation aided by pressure.
PILEPile, v. t.
Defn: To drive piles into; to fill with piles; to strengthen with piles. To sheet-pile, to make sheet piling in or around. See Sheet piling, under 2nd Piling.
PILEPile, n. Etym: [F. pile, L. pila a pillar, a pier or mole of stone.Cf. Pillar.]
1. A mass of things heaped together; a heap; as, a pile of stones; a pile of wood.
2. A mass formed in layers; as, a pile of shot.
3. A funeral pile; a pyre. Dryden.
4. A large building, or mass of buildings. The pile o'erlooked the town and drew the fight. Dryden.
5. (Iron Manuf.)
Defn: Same as Fagot, n., 2.
6. (Elec.)
Defn: A vertical series of alternate disks of two dissimilar metals, as copper and zinc, laid up with disks of cloth or paper moistened with acid water between them, for producing a current of electricity; — commonly called Volta's pile, voltaic pile, or galvanic pile.
Note: The term is sometimes applied to other forms of apparatus designed to produce a current of electricity, or as synonymous with battery; as, for instance, to an apparatus for generating a current of electricity by the action of heat, usually called a thermopile.
7. Etym: [F. pile pile, an engraved die, L. pila a pillar.]
Defn: The reverse of a coin. See Reverse. Cross and pile. See underCross.— Dry pile. See under Dry.
PILEPile, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Piled; p. pr. & vb. n. Piling.]
1. To lay or throw into a pile or heap; to heap up; to collect into a mass; to accumulate; to amass; — often with up; as, to pile up wood. "Hills piled on hills." Dryden. "Life piled on life." Tennyson. The labor of an age in piled stones. Milton.
2. To cover with heaps; or in great abundance; to fill or overfill; to load. To pile arms or muskets (Mil.), to place three guns together so that they may stand upright, supporting each other; to stack arms.
PILEATE; PILEATED Pi"le*ate, Pi"le*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. pileatus, fr. pileus a felt cap or hat.]
1. Having the form of a cap for the head.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a crest covering the pileus, or whole top of the head. Pileated woodpecker (Zoöl.), a large American woodpecker (Ceophloeus pileatus). It is black, with a bright red pointed crest. Called also logcock, and woodcock.
PILEDPiled, a. Etym: [From 2d Pile.]
Defn: Having a pile or point; pointed. [Obs.] "Magus threw a spear well piled." Chapman.
PILEDPiled, a. Etym: [From 1d Pile.]
Defn: Having a pile or nap. "Three-piled velvet." L. Barry (1611).
PILEDPiled, a. Etym: [From 6d Pile.] (Iron Manuf.)
Defn: Formed from a pile or fagot; as, piled iron.
PILEIFORMPi*le"i*form, a. Etym: [Pileus + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of a pileus or cap; pileate.
PILEMENTPile"ment, n. Etym: [From Pile to lay into a heap.]
Defn: An accumulation; a heap. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
PILENTUMPi*len"tum, n.; pl. Pilenta. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: An easy chariot or carriage, used by Roman ladies, and in which the vessels, etc., for sacred rites were carried.
PILEORHIZAPi`le*o*rhi"za, n.; pl. Pilorhizæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A cap of cells which covers the growing extremity of a root; a rootcap.
PILEOUSPi"le*ous, a. Etym: [See Pilous.]
Defn: Consisting of, or covered with, hair; hairy; pilose.
PILERPil"er, n.
Defn: One who places things in a pile.
PILESPiles, n. pl. Etym: [L. pila a ball. Cf. Pill a medicine.] (Med.)
Defn: The small, troublesome tumors or swellings about the anus and lower part of the rectum which are technically called hemorrhoids. See Hemorrhoids.
Note: [The singular pile is sometimes used.] Blind piles, hemorrhoids which do not bleed.