Defn: Of or pertaining to puberty.
PUBERTY Pu"ber*ty, n. Etym: [L. pubertas, fr. puber, pubes, adult: cf. F. puberté.]
1. The earliest age at which persons are capable of begetting or bearing children, usually considered, in temperate climates, to be about fourteen years in males and twelve in females.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The period when a plant first bears flowers.
PUBERULENTPu*ber"u*lent, a. Etym: [See Pubis.] (Bot.)
Defn: Very minutely downy.
PUBES Pu"bes, n. Etym: [L., the hair which appears on the body at puberty, from pubes adult.]
1. (Anat.) (a) The hair which appears upon the lower part of the hypogastric region at the age of puberty. (b) Hence (as more commonly used), the lower part of the hypogastric region; the pubic region.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The down of plants; a downy or villous substance which grows on plants; pubescence.
PUBESCENCEPu*bes"cence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pubescence.]
1. The quality or state of being pubescent, or of having arrived at puberty. Sir T. Browne.
2. A covering of soft short hairs, or down, as one some plants and insects; also, the state of being so covered.
PUBESCENCYPu*bes"cen*cy, n.
Defn: Pubescence.
PUBESCENT Pu*bes"cent, a. Etym: [L. pubescens, -entis, p. pr. of pubescere to reach puberty, to grow hairy or mossy, fr. pubes pubes: cf. F. pubescent.]
1. Arrived at puberty. That . . . the men (are) pubescent at the age of twice seven, is accounted a punctual truth. Sir T. Browne.
2. Covered with pubescence, or fine short hairs, as certain insects, and the leaves of some plants.
PUBICPu"bic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the pubes; in the region of the pubes; as, the pubic bone; the pubic region, or the lower part of the hypogastric region. See Pubes. (b) Of or pertaining to the pubis.
PUBISPu"bis, n. Etym: [NL. See Pubes.] (Anat.)
Defn: The ventral and anterior of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis; sharebone; pubic bone.
PUBLIC Pub"lic, a. Etym: [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people: cf. F. public. See People.]
1. Of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people; relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community; — opposed to private; as, the public treasury. To the public good Private respects must yield. Milton. He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet. D. Webster.
2. Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common; notorious; as, public report; public scandal. Joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. Matt. i. 19.
3. Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house."The public street." Shak. Public act or statute (Law), an act orstatute affecting matters of public concern. Of such statutes thecourts take judicial notice.— Public credit. See under Credit.— Public funds. See Fund, 3.— Public house, an inn, or house of entertainment.— Public law. (a) See International law, under International. (b) Apublic act or statute.— Public nuisance. (Law) See under Nuisance.— Public orator. (Eng. Universities) See Orator, 3.— Public stores, military and naval stores, equipments, etc.— Public works, all fixed works built by civil engineers for publicuse, as railways, docks, canals, etc.; but strictly, military andcivil engineering works constructed at the public cost.
PUBLICPub"lic, n.
1. The general body of mankind, or of a nation, state, or community; the people, indefinitely; as, the American public; also, a particular body or aggregation of people; as, an author's public. The public is more disposed to censure than to praise. Addison.
2. A public house; an inn. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott. In public, openly; before an audience or the people at large; not in private or secrecy. "We are to speak in public." Shak.
PUBLICANPub"li*can, n. Etym: [L. publicanus: cf. F. publicain. See Public.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A farmer of the taxes and public revenues; hence, a collector of toll or tribute. The inferior officers of this class were often oppressive in their exactions, and were regarded with great detestation. As Jesus at meat . . . many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. Matt. 1x. 10. How like a fawning publican he looks! Shak.
2. The keeper of an inn or public house; one licensed to retail beer, spirits, or wine.
PUBLICATION Pub`li*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. publicatio confiscation: cf. F. publication. See Publish.]
1. The act of publishing or making known; notification to the people at large, either by words, writing, or printing; proclamation; divulgation; promulgation; as, the publication of the law at Mount Sinai; the publication of the gospel; the publication of statutes or edicts.
2. The act of offering a book, pamphlet, engraving, etc., to the public by sale or by gratuitous distribution. The publication of these papers was not owing to our folly, but that of others. Swift.
3. That which is published or made known; especially, any book, pamphlet, etc., offered for sale or to public notice; as, a daily or monthly publication.
4. An act done in public. [R. & Obs.] His jealousy . . . attends the business, the recreations, the publications, and retirements of every man. Jer. Taylor. Publication of a libel (Law), such an exhibition of a libel as brings it to the notice of at least one person other than the person libeled. — Publication of a will (Law), the delivery of a will, as his own, by a testator to witnesses who attest it.
PUBLIC-HEARTEDPub"lic-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Public-spirited. [R.]
PUBLICISTPub"li*cist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. publiciste.]
Defn: A writer on the laws of nature and nations; one who is versed in the science of public right, the principles of government, etc. The Whig leaders, however, were much more desirous to get rid of Episcopacy than to prove themselves consummate publicists and logicians. Macaulay.
PUBLICITYPub*lic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. publicité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being public, or open to the knowledge of a community; notoriety; publicness.
PUBLICITY PAMPHLETPublicity pamphlet.
Defn: A pamphlet which, in some States of the United States having the initiative or referendum, is mailed to the voters to inform them as to the nature of a measure submitted by the initiative or referendum. The pamphlet contains a copy of the proposed law and arguments for and against it by those favoring and opposing it, respectively.
PUBLICLYPub"lic*ly, adv.
1. With exposure to popular view or notice; without concealment; openly; as, property publicly offered for sale; an opinion publicly avowed; a declaration publicly made.
2. In the name of the community. Addison.
PUBLIC-MINDEDPub"lic-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Public-spirited.— Pub"lic-mind`ed*ness, n.
PUBLICNESSPub"lic*ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being public, or open to the view or notice of people at large; publicity; notoriety; as, the publicness of a sale.
2. The quality or state of belonging to the community; as, the publicness of property. Boyle.
PUBLIC SCHOOL Public school. (a) In Great Britain, any of various schools maintained by the community, wholly or partly under public control, or maintained largely by endowment and not carried on chiefly for profit; specif., and commonly, any of various select and usually expensive endowed schools which give a liberal modern education or prepare pupils for the universities. Eton, Harrow, Rugby, and Winchester are of this class. (b) In the United States, a free primary, grammar, or high school maintained by the local government.
PUBLIC-SERVICE CORPORATION; QUASI-PUBLIC CORPORATIONPublic-service corporation or sometimes Quasi-public corporation.
Defn: A corporation, such as a railroad company, lighting company, water company, etc., organized or chartered to follow a public calling or to render services more or less essential to the general public convenience or safety.
PUBLIC-SPIRITEDPub"lic-spir`it*ed, a.
1. Having, or exercising, a disposition to advance the interest of the community or public; as, public-spirited men.
2. Dictated by a regard to public good; as, a public-spirited projector measure. Addison.— Pub"lic-spir`it*ed*ly, adv.— Pub"lic-spir`it*ed*ness, n.
PUBLISHPub"lish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Published; p. pr. & vb. n. Publishing.]Etym: [F. publier, L. publicare, publicatum. See Public, and -ish.]
1. To make public; to make known to mankind, or to people in general; to divulge, as a private transaction; to promulgate or proclaim, as a law or an edict. Published was the bounty of her name. Chaucer. The unwearied sun, from day to day, Does his Creator's power display, And publishes to every land The work of an almighty hand. Addison.
2. To make known by posting, or by reading in a church; as, to publish banns of marriage.
3. To send forth, as a book, newspaper, musical piece, or other printed work, either for sale or for general distribution; to print, and issue from the press.
4. To utter, or put into circulation; as, to publish counterfeit paper. [U.S.] To publish a will (Law), to acknowledge it before the witnesses as the testator's last will and testament.
Syn. — To announce; proclaim; advertise; declare; promulgate; disclose; divulge; reveal. See Announce.
PUBLISHABLEPub"lish*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being published; suitable for publication.
PUBLISHERPub"lish*er, n.
Defn: One who publishes; as, a publisher of a book or magazine. For love of you, not hate unto my friend, Hath made me publisher of this pretense. Shak.
PUBLISHMENTPub"lish*ment, n.
1. The act or process of making publicly known; publication.
2. A public notice of intended marriage, required by the laws of some States. [U.S.]
PUCCOONPuc*coon", n. Etym: [From the American Indian name.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any one of several plants yielding a red pigment which is used by the North American Indians, as the bloodroot and two species of Lithospermum (L. hirtum, and L. canescens); also, the pigment itself.
PUCEPuce, a. Etym: [F., fr. puce a flea, L. pulex, pulicis.]
Defn: Of a dark brown or brownish purple color.
PUCELPu"cel, n.
Defn: See Pucelle. [Obs.]
PUCELAGEPu"cel*age (; 48), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Virginity. [R.]
PUCELLE Pu*celle", n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. pulicella, fr. L. pullus a young animal. See Pullet.]
Defn: A maid; a virgin. [Written also pucel.] [Obs.]Lady or pucelle, that wears mask or fan. B. Jonson.La Pucelle, the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc.
PUCERONPu"ce*ron, n. Etym: [F., from puce a flea. See Puce.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any plant louse, or aphis.
PUCHERITEPu"cher*ite, n. Etym: [So named from the Pucher Mine, in Saxony.](Min.)
Defn: Vanadate of bismuth, occurring in minute reddish brown crystals.
PUCKPuck, n. Etym: [OE. pouke; cf. OSw. puke, Icel. puki an evil demon,W. pwca a hobgoblin. Cf. Poker a bugbear, Pug.]
1. (Mediæval Myth.)
Defn: A celebrated fairy, "the merry wanderer of the night;" —called also Robin Goodfellow, Friar Rush, Pug, etc. Shak.He meeteth Puck, whom most men call Hobgoblin, and on him doth fall.Drayton.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The goatsucker. [Prov. Eng.]
PUCKAPuck"a, a. [Written also pukka.] [Hind. pakka cooked, ripe, solid.]
Defn: Good of its kind; — variously used as implying substantial, real, fixed, sure, etc., and specif., of buildings, made of brick and mortar. [India]
It's pukka famine, by the looks of it.Kipling.
PUCKBALLPuck"ball`, n. Etym: [Puck + ball.]
Defn: A puffball.
PUCKERPuck"er, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Puckered; p. pr. & vb. n.Puckering.] Etym: [From Poke a pocket, small bag.]
Defn: To gather into small folds or wrinkles; to contract into ridges and furrows; to corrugate; — often with up; as, to pucker up the mouth. "His skin [was] puckered up in wrinkles." Spectator.
PUCKERPuck"er, n.
1. A fold; a wrinkle; a collection of folds.
2. A state of perplexity or anxiety; confusion; bother; agitation. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]
PUCKERERPuck"er*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, puckers.
PUCKERYPuck"er*y, a.
1. Producing, or tending to produce, a pucker; as, a puckery taste. Lowell.
2. Inclined to become puckered or wrinkled; full of puckers or wrinkles.
PUCKFISTPuck"fist`, n.
Defn: A puffball.
PUCKISHPuck"ish, a. Etym: [From Puck.]
Defn: Resembling Puck; merry; mischievous. "Puckish freaks." J. R.Green.
PUCRASPu"cras, n. Etym: [From a native name in India.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Koklass.
PUDPud, n.
Defn: Same as Pood.
PUDPud, n.
Defn: The hand; the first. [Colloq.] Lamb.
PUDDENING Pud"den*ing, n. Etym: [Probably fr. pudden, for pudding, in allusion to its softness.] (Naut.) (a) A quantity of rope-yarn, or the like, placed, as a fender, on the bow of a boat. (b) A bunch of soft material to prevent chafing between spars, or the like.
PUDDERPud"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Puddered; p. pr. & vb. n. Puddering.]Etym: [Cf. Pother.]
Defn: To make a tumult or bustle; to splash; to make a pother orfuss; to potter; to meddle.Puddering in the designs or doings of others. Barrow.Others pudder into their food with their broad nebs. Holland.
PUDDERPud"der, v. t.
Defn: To perplex; to embarrass; to confuse; to bother; as, to pudder a man. Locke.
PUDDERPud"der, n.
Defn: A pother; a tumult; a confused noise; turmoil; bustle. "All in a pudder." Milton.
PUDDINGPud"ding, n. Etym: [Cf. F. boudin black pudding, sausage, L. botulus,botellus, a sausage, G. & Sw. pudding pudding, Dan. podding, pudding,LG. puddig thick, stumpy, W. poten, potten, also E. pod, pout, v.]
1. A species of food of a soft or moderately hard consistence, variously made, but often a compound of flour or meal, with milk and eggs, etc. And solid pudding against empty praise. Pope.
2. Anything resembling, or of the softness and consistency of, pudding.
3. An intestine; especially, an intestine stuffed with meat, etc.; a sausage. Shak.
4. Any food or victuals. Eat your pudding, slave, and hold your tongue. Prior.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: Same as Puddening. Pudding grass (Bot.), the true pennyroyal(Mentha Pulegium), formerly used to flavor stuffing for roast meat.Dr. Prior.— Pudding pie, a pudding with meat baked in it. Taylor (1630).— Pudding pipe (Bot.), the long, cylindrical pod of the leguminoustree Cassia Fistula. The seeds are separately imbedded in a sweetishpulp. See Cassia.— Pudding sleeve, a full sleeve like that of the English clericalgown. Swift.— Pudding stone. (Min.) See Conglomerate, n., 2.— Pudding time. (a) The time of dinner, pudding being formerly thedish first eaten. [Obs.] Johnson. (b) The nick of time; criticaltime. [Obs.]Mars, that still protects the stout, In pudding time came to his aid.Hudibras.
PUDDING FISH; PUDDING WIFEPud"ding fish, Pudding wife. [Prob. corrupted fr. the Sp. name inCuba, pudiano verde.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, handsomely colored, blue and bronze, labroid fish(Iridio, syn. Platyglossus, radiatus) of Florida, Bermuda, and theWest Indies. Called also pudiano, doncella, and, at Bermuda,bluefish.
PUDDING-HEADEDPud"ding-head`ed, a.
Defn: Stupid. [Colloq.]
PUDDLEPud"dle, n. Etym: [OE. podel; cf. LG. pudel, Ir. & Gael. plod pool.]
1. A small quantity of dirty standing water; a muddy plash; a small pool. Spenser.
2. Clay, or a mixture of clay and sand, kneaded or worked, when wet, to render it impervious to water. Puddle poet, a low or worthless poet. [R.] Fuller.
PUDDLEPud"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Puddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Puddling.]
1. To make foul or muddy; to pollute with dirt; to mix dirt with (water). Some unhatched practice . . . Hath puddled his clear spirit. Shak.
2. (a) To make dense or close, as clay or loam, by working when wet, so as to render impervious to water. (b) To make impervious to liquids by means of puddle; to apply puddle to.
3. To subject to the process of puddling, as iron, so as to convert it from the condition of cast iron to that of wrought iron. Ure. Puddled steel, steel made directly from cast iron by a modification of the puddling process.
PUDDLEPud"dle, v. i.
Defn: To make a dirty stir. [Obs.] R. Junius.
PUDDLE-BALLPud"dle-ball`, n.
Defn: The lump of pasty wrought iron as taken from the puddling furnace to be hammered or rolled.
PUDDLE-BARPud"dle-bar", n.
Defn: An iron bar made at a single heat from a puddle-ball hammering and rolling.
PUDDLERPud"dler, n.
Defn: One who converts cast iron into wrought iron by the process of puddling.
PUDDLINGPud"dling, n.
1. (Hydraul. Engin.) (a) The process of working clay, loam, pulverized ore, etc., with water, to render it compact, or impervious to liquids; also, the process of rendering anything impervious to liquids by means of puddled material. (b) Puddle. See Puddle, n., 2.
2. (Metal.)
Defn: The art or process of converting cast iron into wrought iron or steel by subjecting it to intense heat and frequent stirring in a reverberatory furnace in the presence of oxidizing substances, by which it is freed from a portion of its carbon and other impurities. Puddling furnace, a reverberatory furnace in which cast iron is converted into wrought iron or into steel by puddling.
PUDDLYPud"dly, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, puddles; muddy; foul. "Thick puddly water." Carew.
PUDDOCKPud"dock, n. Etym: [For paddock, or parrock, a park.]
Defn: A small inclosure. [Written also purrock.] [Prov. Eng.]
PUDENCYPu"den*cy, n. Etym: [L. pudens, p. pr. of pudere to be ashamed.]
Defn: Modesty; shamefacedness. "A pudency so rosy." Shak.
PUDENDA Pu*den"da, n. pl. Etym: [L., from pudendus that of which one ought to be ashamed, fr. pudere to be ashamed.] (Anat.)
Defn: The external organs of generation.
PUDENDALPu*den"dal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the pudenda, or pudendum.
PUDENDUMPu*den"dum, n. Etym: [NL. See Pudenda.] (Anat.)
Defn: The external organs of generation, especially of the female; the vulva.
PUDGYPudg"y, a.
Defn: Short and fat or sturdy; dumpy; podgy; as, a short, pudgy little man; a pudgy little hand. Thackeray.
PUDIC Pu"dic, a. Etym: [L.pudicus modest, fr. pudere to be ashamed: cf. F. pudique.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the external organs of generation.
PUDICALPu"dic*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pudic.
PUDICITYPu*dic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pudicité, L. pudicitia.]
Defn: Modesty; chastity. Howell.
PUDUPu"du, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very small deer (Pudua humilis), native of the Chilian Andes.It has simple spikelike antlers, only two or three inches long.
PUEPue v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pued; p. pr. & vb. n. Puing.]
Defn: To make a low whistling sound; to chirp, as birds. Halliwell.
PUEBLOPueb"lo, n. Etym: [Sp., a village, L. populus people. See People.]
Defn: A communistic building erected by certain Indian tribes of Arizona and New Mexico. It is often of large size and several stories high, and is usually built either of stone or adobe. The term is also applied to any Indian village in the same region. Pueblo Indians (Ethnol.), any tribe or community of Indians living in pueblos. The principal Pueblo tribes are the Moqui, the Zuñi, the Keran, and the Tewan.
PUEFELLOWPue"fel`low, n.
Defn: A pewfellow. [Obs.]
PUERPu"er, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: The dung of dogs, used as an alkaline steep in tanning.Simmonds.
PUERCOPu*er"co, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A hog. Puerco beds (Geol.), a name given to certain strata belonging to the earliest Eocene. They are developed in Northwestern New Mexico, along the Rio Puerco, and are characterized by their mammalian remains.
PUERILE Pu"er*ile, a. Etym: [L. puerilis, fr. puer a child, a boy: cf. F. puéril.]
Defn: Boyish; childish; trifling; silly.The French have been notorious through generations for their puerileaffectation of Roman forms, models, and historic precedents. DeQuincey.
Syn.— Youthful; boyish; juvenile; childish; trifling; weak. SeeYouthful.
PUERILELYPu"er*ile*ly, adv.
Defn: In a puerile manner; childishly.
PUERILENESSPu"er*ile*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being puerile; puerility.
PUERILITY Pu`er*il"i*ty, n.; pl. Puerilities. Etym: [L. puerilitas: cf. F. puérilité.]
1. The quality of being puerile; childishness; puerileness. Sir T. Browne.
2. That which is puerile or childish; especially, an expression which is flat, insipid, or silly.
PUERPERAL Pu*er"per*al, a. Etym: [L. puerpera a lying-in woman; puer child + parere to bear: cf. F. puerpéral.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to childbirth; as, a puerperal fever.
PUERPEROUSPu*er"per*ous, a.
Defn: Bearing children. [R.]
PUETPu"et, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pewit.
PUFF Puff, n. Etym: [Akin to G. & Sw. puff a blow, Dan. puf, D. pof; of imitative origin. Cf. Buffet.]
1. A sudden and single emission of breath from the mouth; hence, any sudden or short blast of wind; a slight gust; a whiff. " To every puff of wind a slave." Flatman.
2. Anything light and filled with air. Specifically: (a) A puffball. (b) kind of light pastry. (c) A utensil of the toilet for dusting the skin or hair with powder.
3. An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially one in a public journal. Puff adder. (Zoöl.) (a) Any South African viper belonging to Clotho and allied genera. They are exceedingly venomous, and have the power of greatly distending their bodies when irritated. The common puff adder (Vipera, or Clotho, arietans) is the largest species, becoming over four feet long. The plumed puff adder (C. cornuta) has a plumelike appendage over each eye. (b) A North American harmless snake (Heterodon platyrrhinos) which has the power of puffing up its body. Called also hog-nose snake, flathead, spreading adder, and blowing adder. Puff bird (Zoöl.), any bird of the genus Bucco, or family Bucconidæ. They are small birds, usually with dull-colored and loose plumage, and have twelve tail feathers. See Barbet (b).
PUFF Puff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Puffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Puffing.] Etym: [Akin to G. puffen to pop, buffet, puff, D. poffen to pop, puffen to blow, Sw. puffa to push, to cuff, Dan. puffe to pop, thump. See Puff, n.]
1. To blow in puffs, or with short and sudden whiffs.
2. To blow, as an expression of scorn; — with at. It is really to defy Heaven to puff at damnation. South.
3. To breathe quick and hard, or with puffs, as after violentexertion.The ass comes back again, puffing and blowing, from the chase. L'Estrange.
4. To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated. Boyle.
5. To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance. Then came brave Glory puffing by. Herbert.
PUFFPuff, v. t.
1. To drive with a puff, or with puffs. The clearing north will puff the clouds away. Dryden.
2. To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously. I puff the prostitute away. Dryden.
3. To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate; to ruffle with puffs; — often with up; as a bladder puffed with air. The sea puffed up with winds. Shak.
4. To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, or the like; — often with up. Puffed up with military success. Jowett (Thucyd. )
5. To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly. " Puffed with wonderful skill." Macaulay.
PUFFPuff, a.
Defn: Puffed up; vain. [R.] Fanshawe.
PUFFBALLPuff"ball`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of ball-shaped fungus (Lycoperdon giganteum, and other species of the same genus) full of dustlike spores when ripe; — called also bullfist, bullfice, puckfist, puff, and puffin.
PUFFERPuff"er, n.
1. One who puffs; one who praises with noisy or extravagant commendation.
2. One who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at suction to bid up the price; a by-bidder. Bouvier.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) Any plectognath fish which inflates its body, as the species of Tetrodon and Diodon; — called also blower, puff-fish, swellfish, and globefish. (b) The common, or harbor, porpoise.
4. (Dyeing)
Defn: A kier.
PUFFERYPuff"er*y, n.
Defn: The act of puffing; bestowment of extravagant commendation.
PUFFINPuf"fin, n. Etym: [Akin to puff.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An arctic sea bird Fratercula arctica) allied to the auks, and having a short, thick, swollen beak, whence the name; — called also bottle nose, cockandy, coulterneb, marrot, mormon, pope, and sea parrot.
Note: The name is also applied to other related species, as the horned puffin (F. corniculata), the tufted puffin (Lunda cirrhata), and the razorbill. Manx puffin, the Manx shearwater. See under Manx.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The puffball.
3. A sort of apple. [Obs.] Rider's Dict. (1640).
PUFFINESSPuff"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being puffy.
PUFFINGPuff"ing,
Defn: a. & n. from Puff, v. i. & t. Puffing adder. (Zoöl.) Same asPuff adder (b), under Puff.— Puffing pig (Zoöl.), the common porpoise.
PUFFINGLYPuff"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a puffing manner; with vehement breathing or shortness of breath; with exaggerated praise.
PUFF-LEGPuff"-leg`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of beautiful humming birds of the genus Eriocnemis having large tufts of downy feathers on the legs.
PUFF-LEGGEDPuff"-legged`, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a conspicuous tuft of feathers on the legs.
PUFFYPuff"y, a.
1. Swelled with air, or any soft matter; tumid with a soft substance; bloated; fleshy; as, a puffy tumor. " A very stout, puffy man." Thackeray.
2. Hence, inflated; bombastic; as, a puffy style.
PUGPug, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Pugging.] Etym: [Cf.G. pucken to thump. beat.]
1. To mix and stir when wet, as clay for bricks, pottery, etc.
2. To fill or stop with clay by tamping; to fill in or spread with mortar, as a floor or partition, for the purpose of deadening sound. See Pugging, 2.
PUGPug, n.
1. Tempered clay; clay moistened and worked so as to be plastic.
2. A pug mill. Pug mill, a kind of mill for grinding and mixing clay, either for brickmaking or the fine arts; a clay mill. It consists essentially of an upright shaft armed with projecting knives, which is caused to revolve in a hollow cylinder, tub, or vat, in which the clay is placed.
PUGPug, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. puck. See Puck.]
1. An elf, or a hobgoblin; also same as Puck. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
2. A name for a monkey. [Colloq.] Addison.
3. A name for a fox. [Prov. Eng.] C. Kingsley.
4. An intimate; a crony; a dear one. [Obs.] Lyly.
5. pl.
Defn: Chaff; the refuse of grain. [Obs.] Holland.
6. A prostitute. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
7. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a small breed of pet dogs having a short nose and head; a pug dog.
8. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any geometrid moth of the genus Eupithecia.
PUG-FACEDPug"-faced`, a.
Defn: Having a face like a monkey or a pug; monkey-faced.
PUGGAREEPug"ga*ree, n.
Defn: Same as Puggry.
PUGGERPug"ger, v. t.
Defn: To pucker. [Obs.]
PUGGEREDPug"gered, a.
Defn: Puckered. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
PUGGINGPug"ging, n. Etym: [See Pug, v. t.]
1. The act or process of working and tempering clay to make it plastic and of uniform consistency, as for bricks, for pottery, etc.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Mortar or the like, laid between the joists under the boards of a floor, or within a partition, to deaden sound; — in the United States usually called deafening.
PUGGINGPug"ging, a.
Defn: Thieving. [Obs.] Shak.
PUGGRY; PUGGREE Pug"gry, Pug"gree, n. [Written also puggaree, puggeree, etc.] [Hind. pagrsi turban.]
Defn: A light scarf wound around a hat or helmet to protect the head from the sun. [India] Yule.
A blue-gray felt hat with a gold puggaree.Kipling.
PUGHPugh, interj.
Defn: Pshaw! pish! — a word used in contempt or disdain.
PUGIL Pu"gil, n. Etym: [L. pugillus, pugillum, a handful, akin to pugnus the fist.]
Defn: As much as is taken up between the thumb and two first fingers.[Obs.] Bacon.
PUGILISM Pu"gil*ism, n. Etym: [L. pugil a pugilist, boxer, akin to pugnus the fist. Cf. Pugnacious, Fist.]
Defn: The practice of boxing, or fighting with the fist.
PUGILISTPu"gil*ist, n. Etym: [L. pugil.]
Defn: One who fights with his fists; esp., a professional prize fighter; a boxer.
PUGILISTICPu`gil*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to pugillism.
PUGNACIOUSPug*na"cious, a. Etym: [L. pugnax, -acis, fr. pugnare to fight. Cf.Pugilism, Fist.]
Defn: Disposed to fight; inclined to fighting; quarrelsome; fighting.—Pug*na"cious*ly, adv.— Pug*na"cious*ness, n.
PUGNACITYPug*nac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. pugnacitas: cf. F. pugnacité.]
Defn: Inclination or readiness to fight; quarrelsomeness. " A national pugnacity of character." Motley.
PUG NOSEPug" nose`.
Defn: A short, thick nose; a snubnose.— Pug"-nosed`, a. Pug-nose eel (Zoöl.), a deep-water marine eel(Simenchelys parasiticus) which sometimes burrows into the flesh ofthe halibut.
PUHPuh, interj.
Defn: The same as Pugh.
PUISNEPuis"ne (pu"ny), a. Etym: [See Puny.]
1. Later in age, time, etc.; subsequent. [Obs.] " A puisne date to eternity." Sir M. Hale.
2. Puny; petty; unskilled. [Obs.]
3. (Law)
Defn: Younger or inferior in rank; junior; associate; as, a chief justice and three puisne justices of the Court of Common Pleas; the puisne barons of the Court of Exchequer. Blackstone.
PUISNEPuis"ne, n.
Defn: One who is younger, or of inferior rank; a junior; esp., a judge of inferior rank. It were not a work for puisnes and novices. Bp. Hall.
PUISNYPuis"ny, a.
Defn: Puisne; younger; inferior; petty; unskilled. [R.]A puisny tilter, that spurs his horse but on one side. Shak.
PUISSANCEPu"is*sance, n. Etym: [F., fr.puissant. See Puissant, and cf.Potency, Potance, Potence.]
Defn: Power; strength; might; force; potency. " Youths of puissance."Tennyson.The power and puissance of the king. Shak.
Note: In Spenser, Shakespeare, and Milton, puissance and puissant are usually dissyllables.
PUISSANT Pu"is*sant, a. Etym: [F., originally, a p. pr. formed fr. L. posse to be able: cf. L. potens powerful. See Potent.]
Defn: Powerful; strong; mighty; forcible; as, a puissant prince orempire. " Puissant deeds." Milton.Of puissant nations which the world possessed. Spenser.And worldlings in it are less merciful, And more puissant. Mrs.Browning.
PUISSANTLYPu"is*sant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a puissant manner; powerfully; with great strength.
PUISSANTNESSPu"is*sant*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being puissant; puissance; power.
PUITPuit, n. Etym: [F. puits, from L. puteus well.]
Defn: A well; a small stream; a fountain; a spring. [Obs.]The puits flowing from the fountain of life. Jer. Taylor.
PUKEPuke, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Puked; p. pr. & vb. n. Puking.] Etym: [Cf.G. spucken to spit, and E. spew.]
Defn: To eject the contests of the stomach; to vomit; to spew.The infant Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. Shak.
PUKEPuke, v. t.
Defn: To eject from the stomach; to vomit up.
PUKEPuke, n.
Defn: A medicine that causes vomiting; an emetic; a vomit.
PUKEPuke, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Of a color supposed to be between black and russet. Shak.
Note: This color has by some been regarded as the same with puce; butNares questions the identity.
PUKERPuk"er, n.
1. One who pukes, vomits.
2. That which causes vomiting. Garth .
PUKKAPuk"ka, a.
Defn: Same as Pucka. [India]
PULASPu"las, n. Etym: [Skr. palaça.] (Bot.)
Defn: The East Indian leguminous tree Butea frondosa. See Gum Butea, under Gum. [Written also pales and palasa.]
PULCHRITUDEPul"chri*tude, n. Etym: [L. pulchritudo, fr. pulcher beautiful.]
1. That quality of appearance which pleases the eye; beauty; comeliness; grace; loveliness. Piercing our heartes with thy pulchritude. Court of Love.
2. Attractive moral excellence; moral beauty. By the pulchritude of their souls make up what is wanting in the beauty of their bodies. Ray.
PULE Pule, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Puled; p. pr. & vb. n. Puling.] Etym: [F. piauler; cf. L. pipilare, pipire, to peep, pip, chirp, and E. peep to chirp.]
1. To cry like a chicken. Bacon.
2. To whimper; to whine, as a complaining child. It becometh not such a gallant to whine and pule. Barrow.
PULERPul"er, n.
Defn: One who pules; one who whines or complains; a weak person.
PULEXPu"lex, n. Etym: [L., a flea.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of parasitic insects including the fleas. See Flea.
PULICENEPu"li*cene, a. Etym: [From L. pulex, pulicis, a flea.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or abounding in, fleas; pulicose.
PULICOSE; PULICOUSPu"li*cose`, Pu"li*cous, a. Etym: [L. pulicosus, from pulex, a flea.]
Defn: Abounding with fleas.
PULINGPul"ing, n.
Defn: A cry, as of a chicken,; a whining or whimpering.Leave this faint puling and lament as I do. Shak.
PULINGPul"ing, a.
Defn: Whimpering; whining; childish.
PULINGLYPul"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With whining or complaint.
PULKHAPulk"ha, n.
Defn: A Laplander's traveling sledge. See Sledge.
PULLPull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pulled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pulling.] Etym:[AS. pullian; cf. LG. pulen, and Gael. peall, piol, spiol.]
1. To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly. Ne'er pull your hat upon your brows. Shak. He put forth his hand . . . and pulled her in. Gen. viii. 9.
2. To draw apart; to tear; to rend. He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate. Lam. iii. 11.
3. To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward one; to pluck; as, to pull fruit; to pull flax; to pull a finch.
4. To move or operate by the motion of drawing towards one; as, to pull a bell; to pull an oar.
5. (Horse Racing)
Defn: To hold back, and so prevent from winning; as, the favorite was pulled.
6. (Print.)
Defn: To take or make, as a proof or impression; — hand presses being worked by pulling a lever.
7. (Cricket)
Defn: To strike the ball in a particular manner. See Pull, n., 8. Never pull a straight fast ball to leg. R. H. Lyttelton. To pull and haul, to draw hither and thither. " Both are equally pulled and hauled to do that which they are unable to do. " South. — To pull down, to demolish; to destroy; to degrade; as, to pull down a house. " In political affairs, as well as mechanical, it is easier to pull down than build up." Howell. " To raise the wretched, and pull down the proud." Roscommon. To pull a finch. See under Finch. To pull off, take or draw off.
PULLPull, v. i.
Defn: To exert one's self in an act or motion of drawing or hauling; to tug; as, to pull at a rope. To pull apart, to become separated by pulling; as, a rope will pull apart. — To pull up, to draw the reins; to stop; to halt. To pull through, to come successfully to the end of a difficult undertaking, a dangerous sickness, or the like.
PULLPull, n.
1. The act of pulling or drawing with force; an effort to move something by drawing toward one. I awakened with a violent pull upon the ring which was fastened at the top of my box. Swift.
2. A contest; a struggle; as, a wrestling pull. Carew.
3. A pluck; loss or violence suffered. [Poetic] Two pulls at once; His lady banished, and a limb lopped off. Shak.
4. A knob, handle, or lever, etc., by which anything is pulled; as, a drawer pull; a bell pull.
5. The act of rowing; as, a pull on the river. [Colloq.]
6. The act of drinking; as, to take a pull at the beer, or the mug. [Slang] Dickens.
7. Something in one's favor in a comparison or a contest; an advantage; means of influencing; as, in weights the favorite had the pull. [Slang]
8. (Cricket)
Defn: A kind of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the side. The pull is not a legitimate stroke, but bad cricket. R. A. Proctor.
PULLAILPul"lail, n. Etym: [F. poulaille.]
Defn: Poultry. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
PULLBACKPull"back`, n.
1. That which holds back, or causes to recede; a drawback; a hindrance.
2. (Arch)
Defn: The iron hook fixed to a casement to pull it shut, or to hold it party open at a fixed point.
PULLDEVILPull"dev`il, n.
Defn: A number of fishhooks rigidly fastened back to be pulled through the water to catch fish.
PULLEDPulled a.
Defn: Plucked; pilled; moulting. " A pulled hen." Chaucer.
PULLENPul"len, n. Etym: [Cf. L. pullinus belonging to young animals. SeePullet.]
Defn: Poultry. [Obs.]
PULLERPull"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, pulls.Proud setter up and puller down of kings. Shak.
PULLETPul"let, n. Etym: [OE. polete, OF. polete, F. poulette, dim. of poulea hen, fr. L. pullus a young animal, a young fowl. See Foal, and cf.Poult, Poultry, Pool stake.]
Defn: A young hen, or female of the domestic fowl. Pullet sperm, the treadle of an egg. [Obs.] Shak.
PULLEY Pul"ley, n.; pl. Pulleys. Etym: [F. poulie, perhaps of Teutonic origin (cf. Poll, b. t.); but cf. OE. poleine, polive, pulley, LL. polanus, and F. poulain, properly, a colt, fr. L. pullus young animal, foal (cf. Pullet, Foal). For the change of sense, cf. F. poutre beam, originally, a filly, and E. easel.] (Mach.)
Defn: A wheel with a broad rim, or grooved rim, for transmitting power from, or imparting power to, the different parts of machinery, or for changing the direction of motion, by means of a belt, cord, rope, or chain.
Note: The pulley, as one of the mechanical powers, consists, in its simplest form, of a grooved wheel, called a sheave, turning within a movable frame or block, by means of a cord or rope attached at one end to a fixed point. The force, acting on the free end of the rope, is thus doubled, but can move the load through only half the space traversed by itself. The rope may also pass over a sheave in another block that is fixed. The end of the rope may be fastened to the movable block, instead of a fixed point, with an additional gain of power, and using either one or two sheaves in the fixed block. Other sheaves may be added, and the power multiplied accordingly. Such an apparatus is called by workmen a block and tackle, or a fall and tackle. See Block. A single fixed pulley gives no increase of power, but serves simply for changing the direction of motion. Band pulley, or Belt pulley, a pulley with a broad face for transmitting power between revolving shafts by means of a belt, or for guiding a belt. — Cone pulley. See Cone pulley. — Conical pulley, one of a pair of belt pulleys, each in the shape of a truncated cone, for varying velocities. — Fast pulley, a pulley firmly attached upon a shaft. — Loose pulley, a pulley loose on a shaft, to interrupt the transmission of motion in machinery. See Fast and loose pulleys, under Fast. Parting pulley, a belt pulley made in semicircular halves, which can be bolted together, to facilitate application to, or removal from, a shaft. — Pulley block. Same as Block, n. 6. — Pulley stile (Arch.), the upright of the window frame into which a pulley is fixed and along which the sash slides. Split pulley, a parting pulley.
PULLEYPul"ley, b. t.
Defn: To raise or lift by means of a pulley. [R.] Howell.
PULLICATEPul"li*cate, n.
Defn: A kind of checked cotton or silk handkerchief.
PULLMAN CARPull"man car`. Etym: [Named after Mr. Pullman, who introduced them.]
Defn: A kind of sleeping car; also, a palace car; — often shortened to Pullman.
PULLULATE Pul"lu*late v. i. Etym: [L. pullulatus, p. p. of pullulare to sprout, from pullulus a young animal, a sprout, dim. of pullus. See pullet.]
Defn: To germinate; to bud; to multiply abundantly. Warburton.
PULLULATIONPul`lu*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pullulation.]
Defn: A germinating, or budding. Dr. H. More.
PULLUSPul"lus, n.; pl. Pulli. Etym: [L.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A chick; a young bird in the downy stage.
PULMOBRANCHIATA; PULMOBRANCHIATE Pul`mo*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.], Pul`mo*bran"chi*ate. (, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Pulmonibranchiata, -ate.
PULMOCUTANEOUSPul`mo*cu*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. pulmo a lung + E. cutaneous.](Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the lungs and the akin; as, the pulmocutaneous arteries of the frog.
PULMOGASTEROPODAPul`mo*gas`te*rop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL. & E. Gasteropoda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Pulmonata.
PULMOGRADEPul"mo*grade, a. Etym: [L. pulmo a lung + gradi to walk.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Swimming by the expansion and contraction, or lunglike movement, of the body, or of the disk, as do the medusæ.
PULMOMETERPul*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. pulmo a lung + -meter.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A spirometer.
PULMOMETRYPul*mom"e*try, n. [L. pulmo a lung + -metry.]
Defn: The determination of the capacity of the lungs.
PULMONARIANPul"mo*na"ri*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any arachnid that breathes by lunglike organs, as the spiders and scorpions. Also used adjectively.
PULMONARY Pul"mo*na*ry, a. Etym: [L. pulmonarius, from pulmo, -onis, a lung; of uncertain origin, perh. named from its lightness, and akin to E. float: cf. F. pulmonaire. Cf. Pneumonia.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the lungs; affecting the lungs; pulmonic.Pulmonary artery. See the Note under Artery.
PULMONARYPul"mo*na*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pulmonaire. See Pulmonary, a. ] (Bot.)
Defn: Lungwort. Ainsworth.
PULMONATAPul`mo*na"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from L. pulmo, -onis, a lung.](Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive division, or sub-class, of hermaphrodite gastropods, in which the mantle cavity is modified into an air- breathing organ, as in Helix, or land snails, Limax, or garden slugs, and many pond snails, as Limnæa and Planorbis.
PULMONATE Pul"mo*nate, a. (Zoöl.) (a) Having breathing organs that act as lungs. (b) Pertaining to the Pulmonata. — n.
Defn: One of the Pulmonata.
PULMONATEDPul"mo*na`ted, a.
Defn: same as Pulmonate (a).
PULMONIBRANCHIATA Pul`mo*ni*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. pulmo, -onis, a lung + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Pulmonata.
PULMONIBRANCHIATEPul`mo*ni*bran"chi*ate, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Pulmonate.
PULMONICPul*mon"ic, a. Etym: [L. pulmo, -onis, a lung: cf. F. pulmonique.]
Defn: Relating to, or affecting the lungs; pulmonary.— n.
Defn: A pulmonic medicine.
PULMONIFERAPul`mo*nif"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pulmoniferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Pulmonata.
PULMONIFEROUSPul`mo*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. pulmo, -onis, a lung + -ferous.](Zoöl.)
Defn: Having lungs; pulmonate.
PULMOTORPul"mo`tor, n. [L. pulmo lung + E. motor.]
Defn: An apparatus for producing artificial respiration by pumping oxygen or air or a mixture of the two into and out of the lungs, as of a person who has been asphyxiated by drowning, breathing poisonous gases, or the like, or of one who has been stunned by an electrical shock.
PULPPulp, n. Etym: [L. pulpa flesh, pith, pulp of fruit: cf. F. pulpe.]
Defn: A moist, slightly cohering mass, consisting of soft, undissolved animal or vegetable matter. Specifically: (a) (Anat.) A tissue or part resembling pulp; especially, the soft, highly vascular and sensitive tissue which fills the central cavity, called the pulp cavity, of teeth. (b) (Bot.) The soft, succulent part of fruit; as, the pulp of a grape. (c) The exterior part of a coffee berry. B. Edwards. (d) The material of which paper is made when ground up and suspended in water.
PULPPulp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pulped; p. pr. & vb. n. Pulping.]
1. To reduce to pulp.
2. To deprive of the pulp, or integument. The other mode is to pulp the coffee immediately as it comes from the tree. By a simple machine a man will pulp a bushel in a minute. B. Edwards.
PULPATOONPul`pa*toon", n. Etym: [F. poulpeton, poupeton, a sort of ragout.]
Defn: A kind of delicate confectionery or cake, perhaps made from the pulp of fruit. [Obs.] Nares.
PULPINESSPulp"i*ness, n.
Defn: the quality or state of being pulpy.
PULPITPul"pit, n. Etym: [L. pulpitum: cf. OF. pulpite, F. pulpitre.]
1. An elevated place, or inclosed stage, in a church, in which the clergyman stands while preaching. I stand like a clerk in my pulpit. Chaucer.
2. The whole body of the clergy; preachers as a class; also, preaching. I say the pulpit (in the sober use Of its legitimate, peculiar powers) Must stand acknowledged, while the world shall stand, The most important and effectual guard, Support, and ornament of virtue's cause. Cowper.
3. A desk, or platform, for an orator or public speaker.
PULPITPul"pit, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the pulpit, or preaching; as, a pulpit orator; pulpit eloquence.
PULPITEDPul"pit*ed, a.
Defn: Placed in a pulpit. [R.]Sit . . . at the feet of a pulpited divine. Milton.
PULPITEERPul*pit*eer", n.
Defn: One who speaks in a pulpit; a preacher; — so called incontempt. Howell.We never can think it sinful that Burns should have been humorous onsuch a pulpiteer. Prof. Wilson.
PULPITERPul"pit*er, n.
Defn: A preacher. [Obs.]
PULPITICALPul*pit"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the pulpit; suited to the pulpit. [R.] —Pul*pit"ic*al*ly, adv. [R.] Chesterfield.
PULPITISHPul"pit*ish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the pulpit; like preaching. Chalmers.
PULPITRYPul"pit*ry, n.
Defn: The teaching of the pulpit; preaching. [R. & Obs.] " Mere pulpitry." Milton.
PULPOUSPulp"ous, a. Etym: [L. pulposus: cf. F. pulpeux. See Pulp.]
Defn: Containing pulp; pulpy. " Pulpous fruit." J. Philips.— Pulp"ous*ness, n.
PULPYPulp"y, n.
Defn: Like pulp; consisting of pulp; soft; fleshy; succulent; as, the pulpy covering of a nut; the pulpy substance of a peach or a cherry.
PULQUEPul"que, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: An intoxicating Mexican drink. See Agave.
PULSATE Pul"sate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pulsated; p. pr. & vb. n. Pulsating.] Etym: [L. pulsatus, p. p. of pulsare to beat, strike, v. intens. fr. pellere to beat, strike, drive. See Pulse a beating, and cf. Pulse, v.]
Defn: To throb, as a pulse; to beat, as the heart. The heart of a viper or frog will continue to pulsate long after it is taken from the body. E. Darwin.
PULSATILEPul"sa*tile, a. Etym: [Cf. It. pulsatile, Sp. pulsatil.]
1. Capable of being struck or beaten; played by beating or by percussion; as, a tambourine is a pulsatile musical instrument.
2. Pulsating; throbbing, as a tumor.
PULSATILLAPul`sa*til"la, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of ranunculaceous herbs including the pasque flower.This genus is now merged in Anemone. Some species, as AnemonePulsatilla, Anemone pratensis, and Anemone patens, are usedmedicinally.
PULSATION Pul*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. pulsatio a beating or striking: cf. F. pulsation.]
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: A beating or throbbing, especially of the heart or of an artery, or in an inflamed part; a beat of the pulse.
2. A single beat or throb of a series.
3. A stroke or impulse by which some medium is affected, as in the propagation of sounds.
4. (Law)
Defn: Any touching of another's body willfully or in anger. Thisconstitutes battery.By the Cornelian law, pulsation as well as verberation is prohibited.Blackstone.
PULSATIVEPul"sa*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pulsatif.]
Defn: Beating; throbbing.
PULSATORPul*sa"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. A beater; a striker.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: That which beats or throbs in working.
PULSATORYPul"sa*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pulsatoire.]
Defn: Capable of pulsating; throbbing. Sir H. Wotton. .
PULSE Pulse, n. Etym: [OE. puls, L. puls, pultis, a thick pap or pottage made of meal, pulse, etc. See Poultice, and cf. Pousse.]
Defn: Leguminous plants, or their seeds, as beans, pease, etc.If all the world Should, in a pet of temperance, feed on pulse.Milton.
PULSE Pulse, n. Etym: [OE. pous, OF. pous, F. pouls, fr. L. pulsus (sc. venarum), the beating of the pulse, the pulse, from pellere, pulsum, to beat, strike; cf. Gr. Appeal, Compel, Impel, Push.]
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: The beating or throbbing of the heart or blood vessels, especially of the arteries.
Note: In an artery the pulse is due to the expansion and contraction of the elastic walls of the artery by the action of the heart upon the column of blood in the arterial system. On the commencement of the diastole of the ventricle, the semilunar valves are closed, and the aorta recoils by its elasticity so as to force part of its contents into the vessels farther onwards. These, in turn, as they already contain a certain quantity of blood, expand, recover by an elastic recoil, and transmit the movement with diminished intensity. Thus a series of movements, gradually diminishing in intensity, pass along the arterial system (see the Note under Heart). For the sake of convenience, the radial artery at the wrist is generally chosen to detect the precise character of the pulse. The pulse rate varies with age, position, sex, stature, physical and psychical influences, etc.
2. Any measured or regular beat; any short, quick motion, regularly repeated, as of a medium in the transmission of light, sound, etc.; oscillation; vibration; pulsation; impulse; beat; movement. The measured pulse of racing oars. Tennyson. When the ear receives any simple sound, it is struck by a single pulse of the air, which makes the eardrum and the other membranous parts vibrate according to the nature and species of the stroke. Burke. Pulse glass, an instrument consisting to a glass tube with terminal bulbs, and containing ether or alcohol, which the heat of the hand causes to boil; — so called from the pulsating motion of the liquid when thus warmed. Pulse wave (Physiol.), the wave of increased pressure started by the ventricular systole, radiating from the semilunar valves over the arterial system, and gradually disappearing in the smaller branches. the pulse wave travels over the arterial system at the rate of about 29.5 feet in a second. H. N. Martin. — To feel one's pulse. (a) To ascertain, by the sense of feeling, the condition of the arterial pulse. (b) Hence, to sound one's opinion; to try to discover one's mind.