Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Philopena Pistachio

Philopena, fil-ō-pē′na, n. a game in which each of two persons eats a twin kernel of a nut, and one pays a forfeit to the other on certain conditions: the gift made as a forfeit, or the twin kernels shared. [Ger. vielliebchen—viel, much, liebchen, sweetheart.]

Philopolemic, fil-ō-pō-lem′ik, adj. fond of war or of debate.

Philoprogenitiveness, fil-ō-prō-jen′i-tiv-nes, n. (phren.) the instinctive love of offspring. [Gr. philos, loving, L. progenies, progeny.]

Philosopher, fi-los′ō-fėr, n. a lover of wisdom: one versed in or devoted to philosophy: a metaphysician: one who acts calmly and rationally in all the affairs and changes of life—also ':—fem. '.—adjs. ', ', pertaining or according to philosophy: skilled in or given to philosophy: becoming a philosopher: rational: calm.—adv. '.—v.i. ', to reason like a philosopher: to form philosophical theories.—ns. ', a would-be philosopher; ', would-be philosophy; '.—adjs. ', '.—n. ', the science of being as being: the knowledge of the causes and laws of all phenomena: the collection of general laws or principles belonging to any department of knowledge: reasoning: a particular philosophical system: calmness of temper.—Philosopher's stone, an imaginary stone or mineral compound, long sought after by alchemists as a means of transforming other metals into gold.—Moral, and Natural, philosophy (see Moral, Natural). [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. philosophos—philos, a lover, sophos, wise.]

Philotechnic, -al, fil-ō-tek′nik, -al, adj. fond of the arts.

Philozoic, fil-ō-zō′ik, adj. fond of animals.

Philtre, Philter, fil′tėr, n. a charm or spell to excite love. [Fr. philtre—L. philtrum—Gr. philtron—philos, loving, -tron, denoting the agent.]

Phimosis, fī-mō′sis, n. stenosis of the preputial orifice.

Phisnomy, fis′no-mi, n. (Shak.) the face—a corr. of physiognomy.

Phiz, fiz, n. (humorous) the face.

Phlebitis, flē-bī′tis, n. inflammation of a vein.—ns. ', a calcareous concretion found in a vein; ', science of the veins; ', venous hemorrhage.—adjs. ', '.—v.t. '.—ns. '; ', act of letting blood. [Gr. phleps, phlebos, a vein.]

Phlegethontic, fleg-e-thon′tik, adj. pertaining to or resembling the river Phlegethon, a mythological river of the infernal regions, whose waves rolled torrents of fire, flowing into the lake of Acheron. [Gr. phlegethein—phlegein, to burn.]

Phlegm, flem, n. one of the four elements of which the ancients supposed the blood to be composed: the thick, slimy matter secreted in the throat, and discharged by coughing: sluggishness: indifference: calmness.—adj. Phlegmagogic —ns. ', a medicine expelling phlegm; ', inflammation, esp. Phlegmasia dolens, puerperal tumid leg.—adjs. ', ', abounding in or generating phlegm: cold: sluggish: not easily excited.—adv. '.—n. ', inflammation in the connective tissue.—adjs. '; '. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. phlegma, phlegmatos—phlegein, to burn.]

Phleme=Fleam.

Phleum, flē′um, n. a small genus of annual or perennial grasses—timothy, cat's-tail grass, herd's grass. [Gr. phleōs.]

Phlœum, flē′um, n. the cellular portion of bark next the epidermis—also Epiphlœum and Bast.—n. , the bast or liber portion of a vascular bundle. [Gr. phloios, bark.]

Phlogiston, flō-jis′ton, n. an imaginary element, believed in till nearly the end of the 18th century as forming part of every combustible body, which by its disengagement caused burning, or fire in action.—adj. ' (chem.), containing or resembling phlogiston: inflaming: (med.) inflammatory.—v.t. ', to combine phlogiston with. [Gr.]

Phlox, floks, n. a well-known garden plant, so called from its colour. [Gr.,—phlegein, to burn.]

Phlyctæna, Phlyctena, flik-tē′na, n. a small vesicle.—adjs. '; '; .

Phobanthropy, fō-ban′thrō-pi, n. a morbid dread of mankind.

Phocine, fō′sin, adj. pertaining to the seal family.—n. ', a seal.—adj. ', relating to the genus Phoca.—n. a seal of this genus.—n. ', a genus of delphinoid odontocete cetaceans—the true porpoises.—adjs. '; , like a porpoise. [L. phoca—Gr. phōkē, a seal.]

Phœbus, fē′bus, n. the sun-god: the sun:—fem. Phœbe the moon. [L.,—Gr. phoibos, bright, phæin, to shine.]

Phœnician, Phenician, fē-nish′an, adj. pertaining to Phœnicia, on the coast of Syria, to its people, language, or arts.—n. an inhabitant of Phœnicia: the language, a Semitic dialect, akin to Hebrew.

Phœnix, Phenix, fē′niks, n. a fabulous bird said to have existed for 500 years all alone in the wilderness, and, after burning itself on a funeral pile, to have risen from its own ashes—hence, the emblem of immortality: a paragon. [L.,—Gr. phoinix.]

Pholas, fō′las, n. a genus of stone-bearing bivalves, a piddock:—pl. '.—n. ', a fossil pholad. [Gr.]

Phonate, fō′nāt, v.t. to utter vocal sounds.—n. ', emission of vocal sounds.—adj. ', pertaining to phonation.—n. ', an instrument for registering the vibrations of a sounding body.—adj. '.—adv. '.—n. ', an instrument for measuring the vibrations of a body.

Phonetic, -al, fō-net′ik, -al, adj. pertaining to, or in accordance with, the sound of the voice: representing elementary sounds: vocal.—adv. '.—n. ', a student of phonetics.—v.t. ', to make phonetic.—ns. ', phonetic character or representation; ', one who advocates phonetic-spelling.—n.sing. ', the science of sounds, esp. of the human voice.—ns. ', spelling according to sound: the spelling of words as they are pronounced; ', art of representing sound by phonetic signs.—v.t. ', to represent phonetically.—ns. ', sound, pronunciation; ', a student of phonetics.—adj. ', pertaining to sound.—n.sing. ', acoustics.—adj. ', reflecting or deflecting sound.—n. , clinkstone. [Gr. phōnetikos—phōnē, a sound.]

Phonograph, fō′nō-graf, n. a character or mark used to represent a sound (also '): an instrument by which spoken words or other sounds can be recorded, and afterwards given out again almost in the original tones.—ns. ', ', one versed in phonography.—adjs. ', '.—adv. '.—ns. ', the art of representing each spoken sound by a distinct character: phonetic shorthand; ', an apparatus for recording music as played, or for testing musical strings: a microphone. [Gr. phōnē, sound, graphein, to write.]

Phonology, fō-nol′ō-ji, n. the science of the sounds of the voice, the manner in which these are combined in any language: phonetics.—adj. '.—n. ', one versed in phonology. [Gr. phōnē, sound, logos, discourse.]

Phonotype, fō′nō-tīp, n. a type or sign representing a sound.—adjs. ', ', of or belonging to a phonotype, or to phonotypy.—ns. '; ', the art of representing each of the elementary sounds by different types or distinct characters. [Gr. phōnē, sound, typos, type.]

Phorminx, for′mingks, n. a kind of cithara. [Gr.]

Phormium, for′mi-um, n. a genus of New Zealand plants of the lily family—New Zealand flax or flax-lily. [Gr. phormion, a plant.]

Phosphene, fos′fēn, n. a brilliant coloured spectrum seen when the finger is pressed into the internal corner of the eye. [Gr. phōs, light, phainein, to shine.]

Phosphorus, fos′fō-rus, n. the morning-star: a yellowish substance, like wax, inflammable and giving out light in the dark.—n. ', a salt formed by the combination of phosphoric acid with a base.—adj. ', of the nature of, or containing, a phosphate.—ns. ', a compound formed of phosphorus and some other element, as copper or iron; ', a salt of phosphorous acid; ', the morning-star: (obs.) phosphorus.—v.t. ', to combine or impregnate with phosphorus.—n. ', an alloy of copper, tin, and phosphorus.—v.i. ', to shine in the dark like phosphorus.—n. '.—adjs. ', shining in the dark like phosphorus; ', ', pertaining to or obtained from phosphorus.—ns. ', a massive radiated variety of apatite; ', a compound of phosphorus with a metal.—adj. ', combined with phosphorus.—n. ', phosphorous poisoning.—Phosphatic diathesis (med.), the condition in which there is a tendency in the urine to deposit white gravel. [L.,—Gr.,—phōsphoros, light-bearer—phōs, light, phoros, bearing, from pherein, to bear.]

Photo, fō′tō, n. a colloquial abbreviation of photograph.

Photochemistry, fō-tō-kem′is-tri, n. that branch of chemistry which treats of the chemical action of light.—adj. '.—n. '.

Photochromy, fō′tō-krō-mi, n. the art of reproducing colours by photography.—adj. '.—n. ', a photo-process picture printed in colours by any of the ordinary methods of typography in colours. [Gr. phōs, phōtos, light, chrōma, colour.]

Photo-engraving, fō′tō-en-grā′ving, n. a general term including all the various processes of mechanical engraving by the aid of photography.—The term ' is sometimes applied to photo-engraving by one process or other, often limited to photogravure.—adj. '.

Photogeny, fō-toj′e-ni, n. the art of taking pictures by the action of light on a chemically prepared ground.—adjs. ', '.

Photography, fō-tog′ra-fi, n. the art of producing pictures by the action of light on chemically prepared surfaces.—n. ', a picture so produced.—v.t. to make a picture of by means of photography.—ns. ', '.—adj. ', '.—adv. '. [Gr. phōs, light, graphein, to draw.]

Photogravure, fō′tō-grā-vūr, n. a method of producing by means of photography and the action of acids on a sensitised surface a kind of mezzo-engraving on metal. [Fr.,—Gr. phōs, light, Fr. gravure, engraving.]

Photolithography, fō-tō-li-thog′ra-fi, n. a method by which a photograph in line can be developed with ink so as to be transferred to stone as a lithograph.—n. ', a print produced by photolithography.—v.t. to reproduce by this aid.—n. '.—adj. . [Gr. phōs, phōtos, light, lithos, a stone, graphein, to write.]

Photology, fō-tol′ō-ji, n. the science of light.—adjs. ', '.—n. . [Gr. phōs, phōtos, light, logia—legein, to say.]

Photolysis, fō-tol′i-sis, n. (bot.) the movements of protoplasm under the influence of light. [Gr. phōs, phōtos, light, lysis—lyein, to unloose.]

Photomechanical, fō-tō-mē-kan′i-kal, adj. pertaining to the mechanical production of pictures by the aid of light, as in photo-engraving, &c.

Photometer, fō-tom′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the intensity of light, esp. for comparing the amount of light coming from different sources.—adjs. ', '.—n. , the measurement of the intensity of light. [Gr. phōs, phōtos, light, mētron, a measure.]

Photomicrography, fō-tō-mī-krog′ra-fi, n. the enlargement of microscopic objects by means of the microscope, and the projection of the enlarged image on a sensitive film.—ns. '; '.—adj. . [Gr. phōs, phōtos, light, mikros, little, graphein, to write.]

Photophobia, fō-tō-fō′bi-a, n. a dread of light.—adj. .

Photophone, fō′tō-fōn, n. an apparatus for transmitting articulate speech to a distance along a beam of light. [Gr. phōs, phōtos, light, phōnē, sound.]

Photo-process, fō′tō-pros′es, n. any process by which is produced, by the agency of photography, a matrix from which prints can be made in ink—photogravure, photolithography, and photozincography.

Photopsia, fō-top′si-a, n. the condition of having the sensation of light without external cause.—Also .

Photo-relief, fō′tō-re-lēf′, n. a process of producing plates by means of photography, from which impressions can be taken in an ordinary printing-press.

Photosculpture, fō-tō-skulp′tūr, n. the art of taking likenesses in the form of statuettes or medallions by the aid of photography.

Photosphere, fō′tō-sfēr, n. the luminous envelope round the sun's globe, which is the source of light. [Gr. phōs, phōtos, light, sphaira, a sphere.]

Phototherapy, fō-tō-ther′a-pi, n. the art of healing (of lupus, &c.) by means of light, electric or other, focussed on the diseased part. [Gr. phōs, phōtos, light, therapeuein, to heal.]

Phototype, fō′tō-tīp, n. a type or plate of the same nature as an engraved plate, produced from a photograph.—n. . [Gr. phōs, phōtos, light, typos, type.]

Photo-xylography, fō-tō-zī-log′ra-fi, n. wood-engraving after an impression has been taken on the wood-block by photography. [Gr. phōs, phōtos light, xylon, a log of wood, graphein, to write.]

Photozincography, fō-tō-zing-kog′ra-fi, n. the process of engraving on zinc by taking an impression by photography and etching with acids.—n. , a picture so produced.

Phrase, frāz, n. two or more words expressing a single idea by themselves, or showing the manner or style in which a person expresses himself: part of a sentence: a short pithy expression: phraseology: (mus.) a short clause or portion of a sentence.—v.t. to express in words: to style.—n. ', a book containing or explaining phrases.—adj. ', incapable of being described.—ns. ', ', a wordy speaker or writer; ', ', a combination of shorthand characters to represent a phrase or sentence.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to phraseology: consisting of phrases.—adv. '.—ns. ', a maker or a collector of phrases; ', style or manner of expression or arrangement of phrases: peculiarities of diction: a collection of phrases in a language; ', a mere maker or repeater of phrases.—adj. '.—n. ', the wording of a speech or passage: (mus.) the grouping and accentuation of the sounds in a melody. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. phrasis—phrazein, to speak.]

Phratry, frā′tri, n. a clan: a brotherhood—also '.—adj. '. [Gr. phratēr, a brother.]

Phren, fren, n. the thinking principle, mind: the diaphragm:—pl. Phrenes.—ns. ', psychalgia; ', delirium, frenzy.—adjs. ', ' (also ', '), having a disordered mind: frenzied: mad; ', pertaining to the cure of mental diseases; ', belonging to the diaphragm.—ns. ', mental philosophy; ', thought force.—adj. ', affected with phrenitis.—ns. ', inflammation of the brain; ', descriptive psychology; ', mental disease.—adj. '.—n. ', sudden loss of mental power. [Gr. phrēn, the mind.]

Phrenology, frē-nol′ō-ji, n. the theory that the various faculties and powers of the mind are connected with certain parts of the brain, and can be known by an examination of the outer surface of the skull: the science by which character can be read by examining the skull.—adjs. ', '.—adv. '.—n. ', one who believes or is versed in phrenology. [Gr. phrēn, phrenos, mind, logos, science.]

Phronesis, frō′-nē′sis, n. practical wisdom. [Gr.,—phrēn, mind.]

Phrygian, frij′i-an, adj. pertaining to Phrygia in Asia Minor, or to the Phrygians.—n. a native of Phrygia: a Montanist.—Phrygian cap, a conical cap with the top turned forward.

Phthalein, thal′e-in, n. one of a very important class of dye-yielding materials formed by the union of phenols with the anhydride of phthalic acid.—adj. ', pertaining to naphthalene.—n. ', a colourless crystalline compound obtained by reducing phthalein.

Phthiriasis, thi-rī′a-sis, n. the lousy disease—morbus pediculosus. [L.,—Gr.]

Phthisis, thī′sis, n. consumption or wasting away of the lungs.—adjs. ', '  pertaining to or having phthisis.—n. Phthisiology  the sum of scientific knowledge about phthisis. [L.,—Gr. phthiein, to waste away.]

Phycology, fī-kol′ō-ji, n. the knowledge of algæ or sea-weeds.—n. ', systematic description of algae.—adj. '.—n. .



Phylactery, fi-lak′te-ri, n. a charm or amulet: among the Jews, a slip of parchment inscribed with certain passages of Scripture, worn on the left arm or forehead: among the early Christians, a case in which relics were preserved.—adjs. ', '. [L.,—Gr. phylaktērion, phylaktēr, a guard—phylassein, to guard.]

Phylarch, fī′lark, n. in ancient Greece, the chief of a tribe: in Athens, the commander of the cavalry of a tribe.—ns. ', the office of a phylarch; Phyle a tribe or clan in ancient Greece.—adj. ', pertaining to a race or tribe: pertaining to a phylum of the animal kingdom.—n. Phylum  any primary division or sub-kingdom of the animal or vegetable kingdom:—pl. .

Phyllite, fil′īt, n. clay-slate or argillaceous schist.—adj. . [Gr.,—phyllon, a leaf.]

Phyllium, fil′i-um, n. a genus of orthopterous insects of family Phasmidæ—leaf-insects or walking-leaves.

Phyllodium, fi-lō′di-um, n. a petiole which usurps the function of a leaf-blade.—adj. .

Phylloid, fil′oid, adj. leaf-like—also '.—ns. ', divination by leaves; ', abnormal production of leaves; ', foliage.—adj. '.—n. ', the reversion of floral organs, as sepals and bracts, to leaves—better .

Phyllophagous, fi-lof′a-gus, adj. feeding on leaves.—n. a member of the , a tribe of hymenopterous insects—the saw-flies: a group of lamellicorn beetles which are leaf-eaters—the chafers.

Phyllophorous, fi-lof′ō-rus, adj. producing leaves: (zool.) having leaf-like organs.

Phyllopod, fil′ō-pod, adj. having foliaceous feet—also '.—n. a crustacean of the order Phyllopoda.—adj. '.

Phyllorhine, fil′ō-rin, adj. having a nose-leaf.

Phyllostomatous, fil-ō-stom′a-tus, adj. leaf-nosed, as a bat.—n. ', a leaf-nosed bat.—adj. ', leaf-nosed.

Phyllotaxis, fil-ō-tak′sis, n. the disposition of leaves on the stem.—Also . [Gr. phyllon, a leaf, taxis, arrangement.]

Phylloxera, fil-ok-sē′ra, n. a genus of insects, belonging to a family nearly related to aphides and coccus insects, very destructive to vines. [Gr. phyllon, a leaf, xēros, dry.]

Phylogeny, fī-loj′e-ni, n. a biological term applied to the evolution or genealogical history of a race or tribe—also '.—adv. '.—adjs. ', '. [Gr. phylon, race, genesis, origin.]

Physalia, fī-sā′li-a, n. a genus of large oceanic hydrozoans—Portuguese man-of-war. [Gr. physallis, a plant, bladder—physa, bellows.]

Physalite, fis′a-līt, n. a coarse topaz.

Physeter, fi-sē′tėr, n. a sperm-whale.

Physic, fiz′ik, n. the science of medicine: the art of healing: a medicine: (orig.) natural philosophy, physics.—v.t. to give medicine to:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. —ns. Physician  one skilled in the use of physic or the art of healing: one who prescribes remedies for diseases: a doctor.—ns. ', post or office of physician; '; , Barbadoes or Purging nut, the seeds of Jatropha curcas.—Physic garden, a botanical garden. [O. Fr.,—Gr. physikē, natural—Gr. physis, nature.]

Physical, fiz′ik-al, adj. pertaining to nature or to natural objects: pertaining to material things: of or pertaining to natural philosophy: known to the senses: pertaining to the body.—n. ', one who thinks that human thought and action are determined by the physical organisation.—adv. '.—ns. ' (-sizm), belief in the material or physical as opposed to the spiritual; ' (-sist), a student of nature: one versed in physics: a natural philosopher: one who believes that life is merely a form of physical energy.—Physical astronomy, an account of the causes of the motions of the heavenly bodies; Physical education, training of the bodily powers by exercise; Physical examination, an examination of the bodily state of a person; Physical force, force applied outwardly to the body, as distinguished from persuasion, &c.; Physical geography, an account of the state of the earth in its natural condition—its mountain-chains, ocean-currents, distribution of plants and animals, conditions of climate, &c.; Physical truth, the agreement of thought with what exists in nature; Physical world, the world of matter. [Gr. physikos—physis, nature.]

Physics, fiz′iks, n.pl. used as sing. (orig.) equivalent to Physical science—i.e. the science of the order of nature: usually sig. (as distinguished from chemistry) the study of matter and the general properties of matter as affected by energy or force—also called Natural philosophy.—ns. ', logic illustrated by physics; ', theology illustrated by natural philosophy. [L. physica—Gr. physikē (theōria, theory)—physis, nature.]

Physiocracy, fiz-i-ok′rā-si, n. the economic doctrine of the physiocrats (François Quesnay, 1694-1744, and his followers), that society should be governed by a natural order inherent in itself, land and its products the only true source of wealth, direct taxation of land the only proper source of revenue.—n. ', one who maintains these opinions.—adj. '.—n. . [Gr. physis, nature, kratein, to rule.]

Physiogeny, fiz-i-oj′e-ni, n. (biol.) the genesis of function—also '.—adjs. ', .

Physiognomy, fiz-i-og′nō-mi, n. the art of judging the qualities of a character from the external appearance, especially from the countenance: expression of countenance: the face as an index of the mind: the general appearance of anything.—adjs. ', '.—adv. '.—n.sing. ' (same as Physiognomy).—n. . [For physiognomony—Gr. physiognōmonia—physis, nature, gnōmōn, one who interprets—gnōnai, to know.]

Physiography, fiz-i-og′ra-fi, n. an exposition of the principles that underlie physical geography, and including the elements of physical science: an introduction to the study of nature: physical geography.—n. ', one versed in physiography.—adjs. ', . [Gr. physis, nature, graphein, to describe.]

Physiolatry, fiz-i-ol′a-tri, n. nature-worship.

Physiology, fiz-i-ol′ō-ji, n. the science of the nature and processes of life, of the vital phenomena of animals and plants and the functions of their parts—a branch of biology.—adjs. ', '.—adv. '.—v.i. '.—n. . [Gr. physis, nature, logos, science.]

Physiomedicalism, fiz-i-ō-med′i-kal-izm, n. the system of treating disease with only non-poisonous vegetable drugs.—n. .

Physique, fiz-ēk′, n. the physical structure or natural constitution of a person. [Fr.]

Physitheism, fiz′i-thē-izm, n. the ascribing of physical form and attributes to deity.—adj. . [Gr. physis, nature, theos, God.]

Physiurgic, fiz-i-ur′jik, adj. produced by natural causes, without man's intervention.

Physnomy, fiz′no-mi, n. (Spens.). Same as Physiognomy.

Physoclistous, fī-sō-klis′tus, adj. having no air-bladder, or having it closed, as a fish. [Gr. physa, bellows, kleistos—kleiein, to close.]

Physograde, fī′sō-grād, adj. moving by a vesicular float. [Gr. physa, bellows, L. gradi, to walk.]

Physopod, fī′sō-pod, adj. with suckers on the feet. [Gr. physa, bellows, pous, podos, the foot.]

Physostigmine, fī-sō-stig′min, n. a poisonous alkaloid, the active principle of the Calabar bean. [Gr. physa, bellows, stigma, stigma.]

Physostomous, fī-sos′tō-mus, adj. having mouth and air-bladder connected by an air-duct, as a fish. [Gr. physa, bellows, stoma, a mouth.]

Phytobranchiate, fī-tō-brang′ki-āt, adj. having leafy gills. [Gr. phyton, a plant, brangchia, gills.]

Phytochemistry, fī-tō-kem′is-tri, n. the chemistry of plants—also '.—adj. '.

Phytogenesis, fī-tō-jen′e-sis, n. the theory of the generation of plants—also '.—adjs. ', . [Gr. phyton, a plant, genesis, birth.]

Phytogeography, fī-tō-je-og′ra-fi, n. the geographical distribution of plants.—adjs. ', '.

Phytoglyphy, fī-tog′li-fi, n. the art of printing from nature, by taking impressions from plants, &c., on soft metal, from which an electrotype plate is taken.—adj. . [Gr. phyton, a plant, glyphein, to engrave.]

Phytography, fī-tog′raf-i, n. the department of botany relating to the particular description of species of plants.—n. '.—adj. '. [Gr. phyton, a plant, graphein, to write.]

Phytoid, fī′toid, adj. plant-like, esp. of animals and organs. [Gr. phyton, a plant, eidos, form.]

Phytolithology, fī-tō-li-thol′ō-ji, n. the science of fossils plants.—n. .

Phytology, fī-tol′ō-ji, n. the science of plants, botany.—adj. '.—n. '. [Gr. phyton, a plant, logia, discourse.]

Phytonomy, fī-ton′ō-mi, n. the science of the origin and growth of plants: botany. [Gr. phyton, a plant, nomos, a law.]

Phytopathology, fī-tō-pā-thol′ō-ji, n. the science of the diseases of plants.—adj. '.—n. '.

Phytophagous, fī-tof′a-gus, adj. feeding on plants—also '.—ns. '; . [Gr. phyton, a plant, phagein, to eat.]

Phytosis, fī-tō′sis, n. the presence of vegetable parasites, or the diseases caused by them.

Phytotomy, fī-tot′ō-mi, n. the dissection of plants.—n. '.—adj. '. [Gr. phyton, a plant, tomos, a cutting—temnein, to cut.]

Phytozoa, fī-tō-zō′a, n.pl. plant-like animals: animals which more or less resemble plants in appearance and habits, such as sponges, sea-anemones, &c.:—sing. '.—adj. and n. '. [Gr. phyton, a plant, zōon, an animal.]

Pi, Pie, pī, n. a mass of types confusedly mixed.—v.t. to reduce to a mixed mass, or to a state of pi, as types. [Cf. Pie, a magpie, &c.]

Pia, pē′a, n. a perennial Polynesian herb, whose fleshy tubers yield arrowroot.

Piacere, pia-chā′re, n. (mus.) a piacere, at pleasure.—adj. Piacevole pleasant, playful. [It.]

Piacular, pī-ak′ū-lar, adj. serving to appease, expiatory: requiring expiation: atrociously bad.—n. . [L. piaculum, sacrifice—piāre, expiate—pius, pious.]

Piaffe, pi-af′, v.i. in horsemanship, to advance at a piaffer.—n. , a gait in which the feet are lifted in the same succession as the trot, but more slowly.—Also Spanish-walk. [Fr. piaffer.]

Pia mater, pī′a mā′tėr, n. the vascular membrane investing the brain: (Shak.) the brain. [L.]

Pianoforte, pi-ä′no-fōr′tā, generally shortened to Piano n. a musical instrument furnished with wires struck by little hammers which are moved by keys, so as to produce both soft and strong sounds.—ns. ', a small piano; Pianino  an upright pianoforte; ', the technique of the pianoforte: arrangement of music for the pianoforte.—adv. ', very softly.—n. ', one who plays on the pianoforte, or one well skilled in it.—adv. ' (mus.), softly.—ns. ', a school where piano music is taught; , a stool on which the player sits at the piano.—Boudoir, or Cabinet, piano, an upright piano. [It., piano, soft—L. planus, plane, forte, strong—L. fortis, strong.]

Piarist, pī′ar-ist, n. one of a religious congregation for the education of the poor, founded in Rome in 1617 by Joseph Calasanza. [L. pius, pious.]

Piassava, pi-as′a-va, n. a coarse stiff fibre used for rope-making in Brazil.—Also . [Port.]

Piastre, Piaster, pi-as′tėr, n. a silver coin of varying value, used in Turkey and other countries: the Spanish dollar. [Fr.,—It. piastra.]

Piazza, pi-az′a, n. a place or square surrounded by buildings: a walk under a roof supported by pillars.—adj. . [It.,—L. platea, a place.]

Pibroch, pē′broh, n. a form of bagpipe music, generally of a warlike character, including marches, dirges, &c. [Gael. piobaireachd, pipe-music—piobair, a piper—piob, a pipe, fear, a man.]

Pica, pī′ka, n. a size of type smaller than English and larger than Small pica, equal to 12 points in the new system of sizes, about 6 lines to the inch, used by printers as a standard unit of measurement for thickness and length of leads, rules, borders, &c.—as 6-to-pica or 10-to-pica, according as 6 or 10 leads set together make a line of pica.—Double pica, a size equal to 2 lines of small pica; Double small pica, a size of type giving about 3⅓ lines to the inch; Small pica, a size smaller than pica and larger than long-primer, about 11 points; Two-line pica, a size of about 3 lines to the inch, equal to 2 lines of pica, or to 24 points. [Pie (2).]

Pica, pī′ka, n. a magpie. [Pie.]

Picador, pik-a-dōr′, n. a horseman armed with a lance, who commences a bull-fight by pricking the bull with his weapon. [Sp. pica, a pike.]

Picamar, pik′a-mär, n. the bitter principle of tar. [L. pix, pitch, amarus, bitter.]

Picard, pik′ärd, n. a high shoe for men, introduced from France about 1720.

Picaroon, pik-a-rōōn′, n. one who lives by his wits: a cheat: a pirate.—adj. .—Picaresque novels, the tales of Spanish rogue and vagabond life, much in vogue in the 17th century. [Sp. picaron—pícaro, a rogue.]

Picayune, pik-a-yōōn′, n. a small coin worth 6¼ cents, current in United States before 1857, and known in different states by different names (fourpence, fippence, fip, sixpence, &c.).—adj. petty. [Carib.]

Piccadilly, pik′a-dil-i, n. a standing-up collar with the points turned over, first worn about 1870: a high collar worn in the time of James I.: an edging of lace on a woman's broad collar (17th century).

Piccalilli, pik′a-lil-i, n. a pickle of various vegetable substances with mustard and spices.

Piccaninny, Pickaninny, pik′a-nin-i, n. a little child: an African or negro child. [Perh. from Sp. pequeño niño='little child.']

Piccolo, pik′ō-lō, n. a flute of small size, having the same compass as an ordinary flute, while the notes all sound an octave higher than their notation.—Also Flauto piccolo, Octave flute, Ottavino. [It.]

Pice, pīs, n.sing. and pl. a money of account and a copper coin, ¼ anna. [Marathi paisa.]

Picea, pī′sē-a, n. a genus of coniferous trees, including the spruce.

Piceous, pish′ē-us, adj. pitch-black.

Piciform, pis′i-form, adj. like to, or relating to, the woodpecker.

Pick, pik, v.t. to prick with a sharp-pointed instrument: to peck, as a bird: to pierce: to open with a pointed instrument, as a lock: to pluck or gather, as flowers, &c.: to separate or pull apart: to clean with the teeth: to gather: to choose: to select: to call: to seek, as a quarrel: to steal.—v.i. to do anything carefully: to eat by morsels.—n. any sharp-pointed instrument, esp. for loosening and breaking up hard soil, &c.: a picklock: foul matter collecting on printing-types, &c.: right or opportunity of first choice.—n. ', the blue titmouse: the fruit of the mallow.—adj. Picked (pikt), selected, hence the choicest or best: having spines or prickles, sharp-pointed.—ns. '; ', one who picks or gathers up: one who removes defects from and finishes electrotype plates: a pilferer; ', the act of picking, selecting, gathering, pilfering: that which is left to be picked: dabbing in stone-working: the final finishing of woven fabrics by removing burs, &c.: removing defects from electrotype plates; ', an instrument for picking or opening locks; ', a stimulating drink; ', one who picks or steals from other people's pockets; ', one who steals the purse or from the purse of another.—adj. ', given to picking and choosing.—n. ', an officious person who does what he is not desired to do in order to gain favour: a flatterer: a parasite.—v.t. to gain favour by unworthy means.—Pick a hole in one's coat, to find fault with one; Pick a quarrel, to find an occasion of quarrelling; Pick at, to find fault with; Pick fault, to seek occasions of fault-finding; Pick oakum, to make oakum by untwisting old ropes; Pick off, to aim at and kill or wound, as with a rifle; Pick one's way, to move carefully; Pick out, to make out: to mark with spots of colour, &c.; Pick to pieces, to tear asunder: to damage, as character; Pick up, to improve gradually: to gain strength bit by bit: to take into a vehicle, or into one's company: to get as if by chance.—adj. gathered together by chance. [Celt., as Gael. pioc, to pick, W. pigo; cf. Pike.]

Pickaback, pik′a-bak, adv. on the back like a pack.—Also ', '.

Pickaxe, pik′aks, n. a picking tool, with a point at one end of the head and a cutting blade at the other, used in digging. [M. E. pikois—O. Fr. picois, a mattock, piquer, to pierce, pic, a pick—Celt.]

Pickeer, pi-kēr′, v.i. (obs.) to act as a skirmisher.—n. .

Pickerel, pik′e-rel, n. an American pike: a wading bird, the dunlin. [Pike + er + el.]

Picket, pik′et, n. a pointed stake used in fortification: a small outpost or guard stationed in front of an army: a number of men sent out by a trades-union to prevent others from working against the wishes or decisions of the union: a game at cards: a punishment inflicted by making a person stand on one foot on a pointed stake.—v.i. to fasten to a stake, as a horse: to post a vanguard: to place a picket at or near.—ns. ', a fence of pickets or pales; ', a guard kept in readiness in case of alarm. [Fr. piquet, dim. of pic, a pickaxe.]

Pickle, pik′l, n. a liquid of salt and water in which flesh and vegetables are preserved: vinegar, &c., in which articles of food are preserved: anything pickled: a disagreeable position: (coll.) a troublesome child.—v.t. to season or preserve with salt, vinegar, &c.—ns. ', a pickled herring: (obs.) a merry-andrew; ', the larva of a pyralid moth.—Have a rod in pickle, to have a punishment ready. [M. E. pikil, prob. pick-le; Dut. pekel; Ger. pökel.]

Pickle, pik′l, n. (Scot.) a small quantity.—v.t. and v.i. to eat sparingly: to pilfer.

Pickwickian, pik-wik′i-an, adj. relating to or resembling Mr Pickwick, the hero of Dickens's Pickwick Papers.—In a Pickwickian sense, in a merely hypothetical sense—a phrase by which the members of the Pickwick Club explained away unparliamentary language.

Picnic, pik′nik, n. a short excursion into the country by a pleasure-party who take their own provisions with them: an entertainment in the open air, towards which each person contributes.—v.i. to go on a picnic:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. —n. . [Prob. pick, to nibble, and nick, for knack, a trifle.]

Picot, pē-kō′, n. a loop in an ornamental edging, the front of a flounce, &c.—adj. Picotté. [Fr.]

Picotee, pik-ō-tē′, n. a florist's variety of carnation. [From the French botanist Picot, Baron de la Peyrouse, 1744-1818.]

Picquet. Same as Piquet.

Picqué-work, pē-kā′-wurk, n. decoration by dots or slight depressions.—Also Pounced-work.

Picra, pik′ra, n. a cathartic powder of aloes and canella. [Gr. pikros, bitter.]

Picric, pik′rik, adj. carbazotic.—n. ', a salt of picric acid.—adj. ', mixed with a picrate as in a composition for a whistling rocket.—ns. ', one of the peridotites or olivine-rocks; ', a bitter poisonous principle in the seeds of Cocculus indicus.—Picric acid, an acid used as a dye for wool, &c. [Gr. pikros, bitter.]

Pict, pikt, n. one of an ancient race for 5½ centuries (296-844 A.D.) inhabiting eastern Scotland, from the Forth to the Pentland Firth, most probably Celts, but more nearly allied to the Cymry than to the Gael.—adj. .—Pictish towers, a name sometimes given to brochs (q.v.); Picts' houses, a name popularly given in many parts of Scotland to rude underground dwellings or earth-houses; Picts' work, a name sometimes given to the Catrail, the remains of a large earthwork extending for about fifty miles through the counties of Selkirk and Roxburgh. [L. picti, pl. of pa.p. of pingĕre, pictum, to paint.]

Picture, pik′tūr, n. a painting: a likeness in colours: a drawing: painting: a resemblance: an image: a vivid verbal description.—v.t. to paint, to represent by painting: to form a likeness of in the mind: to describe vividly in words.—n. ', a picture or pictorial sign: a piece of picture-writing.—adj. '.—n. '.—adjs. ', ', relating to pictures: illustrated by pictures: consisting of pictures.—adv. '.—ns. ' (Spens.), a picture; ', a book of pictures; ', a frame surrounding a picture; ', a gallery, or large room, in which pictures are hung up for exhibition; ', a rod running round the upper part of the wall of a room, from which pictures are hung; ', the use of pictures to express ideas or relate events. [L. pictura—pingĕre, pictum, to paint.]

Picturesque, pik-tū-resk′, adj. like a picture: such as would make a good or striking picture: expressing the pleasing beauty of a picture.—adv. '.—n. '. [It. pittoresco—pittura, a picture—L. pictura.]

Picul, Pecul, pik′ul, n. a Chinese weight of about 133⅓ lb.

Picus, pī′kus, n. a Linnæan genus of woodpeckers.

Piddle, pid′l, v.i. to deal in trifles: to trifle: to eat with little relish: to make water.—n. ', a trifler.—adj. ', trifling, squeamish. [Peddle.]

Piddock, pid′ok, n. the pholas.

Pidgin-English, pij′in-ing′glish, n. a mixture of corrupted English with Chinese and other words, a sort of lingua franca which grew up between Chinese on the sea-board and foreigners, as a medium of intercommunication in business transactions. [Pidgin, a Chinese corruption of business.]

Pie, pī, n. a magpie: (print.) type mixed or unsorted (cf. Pi). [Fr.,—L. pica.]

Pie, pī, n. a book which ordered the manner of performing divine service: a service-book: an ordinal.—By cock and pie (Shak.), a minced oath=By God and the service-book. [Fr.,—L. pica, lit. magpie, from its old black-letter type on white paper resembling the colours of the magpie.]

Pie, pī, n. the smallest Indian copper coin, equal to ⅓ of a pice, or 1 &frasl; 12 of an anna. [Marathi pā'ī, a fourth.]

Pie, pī, n. a quantity of meat or fruit baked within a crust of prepared flour.—A finger in the pie (see Finger); Humble-pie (see Humble); Mince-pie (see Mince); Perigord pie, a pie flavoured with truffles, abundant in Perigord in France. [Perh. Ir. and Gael. pighe, pie.]

Piebald, Pyebald, pī′bawld, adj. of various colours: having spots and patches. [For pie-balled—pie, a magpie, W. bal, a streak on a horse's forehead.]

Piece, pēs, n. a part of anything: a single article: a definite quantity, as of cloth or paper: an amount of work to be done at one time: a separate performance: a literary or artistic composition: a gun: a coin: a man in chess or draughts: a person, generally a woman, in contempt.—v.t. to enlarge by adding a piece: to patch.—v.i. to unite by a joining of parts: to join.—n.pl. ', cotton, linen, woollen, or silk fabrics sold retail in varying lengths.—adj. ', not made of pieces: entire.—adv. ', in pieces or fragments: by pieces: little by little: bit by bit: gradually.—adj. made of pieces: single: separate.—ns. ', a piecer; ', or ', the act of mending, esp. the joining of the ends of yarn, thread, &c. so as to repair breaks; ', a boy or girl employed in a spinning-factory to join broken threads; ', work done by the piece or quantity rather than by time.—Pièce de résistance, principal piece: chief event or performance: chief dish at a dinner; Piece of eight, the Spanish peso duro ('hard dollar'), bearing the numeral 8, of the value of 8 reals (prob. the sign $ is derived from this); Piece out, to put together bit by bit; Piece up, to patch up.—Give a piece of one's mind, to give a rating frankly to any one's face; Of a piece, as if of the same piece, the same in nature, &c. [O. Fr. piece—Low L. petium, a piece of land—prob. L. pes, pedis, a foot.]

Pied, pīd, adj. variegated like a magpie: of various colours: spotted.—n. .

Pieled, pēld, adj. (Shak.) peeled, bare, bald.

Piend, pēnd, n. the sharp point or edge of a hammer: a salient angle.

Piepowder, pī′pow-dėr, n. an ancient court held in fairs and markets to administer justice in a rough-and-ready way to all comers—also Court of Dusty Foot.—adj. , with dusty feet. [O. Fr. piepoudreux, a hawker, pied—L. pes, a foot, poudre, powder.]

Pier, pēr, n. the mass of stone-work between the openings in the wall of a building: an arch, bridge, &c.: a stone pillar on which the hinges of a gate are fixed: a mass of stone or wood-work projecting into the sea for landing purposes: a wharf.—ns. ', toll paid for using a pier; ', a mirror hung in the space between windows; , a table fitted for the space between two windows. [O. Fr. pierre, a stone—L. petra—Gr. petra, a rock.]

Pierce, pērs, v.t. to thrust or make a hole through: to enter, or force a way into: to touch or move deeply: to dive into, as a secret.—v.i. to penetrate.—adj. ', capable of being pierced.—n. ', one who, or that which, pierces: any sharp instrument used for piercing: a stiletto.—adj. '.—adv. '.—n. . [O. Fr. percer, prob. pertuisier—pertuis, a hole—L. pertundĕre, pertusum, to thrust through.]

Pierian, pī-ē′ri-an, adj. pertaining to the Muses.—n. , the nine Muses. [L. Pierius—Mt. Pierus, in Thessaly, the haunt of the Muses.]

Pierrot, pye-rō′, n. a buffoon with loose long-sleeved white robe: an 18th-century women's low-cut basque, with sleeves. [Fr.]

Piet, pī′et, n. a pie or magpie. [Pie.]

Pietà, pē-ā-ta′, n. a representation of the Virgin embracing the dead body of Jesus.

Pietra-dura, pyā′tra-dōō′ra, n. Florentine mosaic-work, in which the inlaid materials are hard stones—jasper, agate, &c.

Piety, pī′e-ti, n. the quality of being pious: reverence for the Deity, and desire to do His will: love and duty towards parents, friends, or country: sense of duty: dutiful conduct.—ns. ', the doctrine and practice of the pietists; ', one marked by strong devotional feeling: a name first applied to a sect of German religious reformers of deep devotional feeling (end of 17th century).—adjs. ', '. [Fr. piété—L. pietas.]

Piezometer, pī-e-zom′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the compressibility of liquids. [Gr. piezein, to press, metron, a measure.]

Piffero, pif′e-rō, n. a form of oboe: an organ-stop.

Pig, pig, n. a swine of either gender: an oblong mass of unforged metal, as first extracted from the ore, so called because it is made to flow when melted in channels called pigs, branching from a main channel called the sow.—v.i. to bring forth pigs: to live together like pigs:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. pigged.—adjs. ', having small dull eyes with heavy lids; ', looking like a pig.—n. ', a place where pigs are kept.—adj. ', belonging to or like pigs: greedy, said of persons.—n. '.—adj. ', having a large or ill-formed head: stupidly obstinate.—ns. '; ', iron in pigs or rough bars; ', lead in pigs; ' (same as Earth-nut); ', a pigheaded fellow: a blockhead; ', the skin of a pig prepared as a strong leather: a saddle; ', a pen for keeping pigs; ', swill; ' (slang), a low whisper: a very short space of time; ', the tail of a pig: the hair of the head tied behind in the form of a pig's tail: a roll of twisted tobacco. [A.S. pecg; Dut. bigge, big.]

Pig, pig, n. an earthen vessel. [Piggin.]

Pigeon, pij′un, n. a well-known bird, the dove: any bird of the dove family.—adjs. ', having a physical deformity, due to rickets, in which the chest is flattened from side to side, and the sternum or breast-bone is thrown forward; ', timid: fearful.—n. ', a hole or niche in which pigeons lodge in a dovecot: a division of a case for papers, &c.—v.t. to put into a pigeon-hole: to lay aside and treat with neglect.—n. ', a dovecot.—adj. ', timid: cowardly.—n. ', a place for keeping pigeons.—adj. , having feet like pigeons, peristeropod: having turned-in toes. [Fr.,—L. pipio, -onis—pipīre, to chirp.]

Piggin, pig′in, n. a small wooden or earthen vessel. [Gael. pigean, dim. of pigeadh, or pige, a pot.]

Pight, pīt, v.t. (Spens.) to place, to fix.—adj. placed, fixed, determined. [Pitch, to place.]

Pigmean, pig-mē′an, adj. like a pygmy: very small.

Pigment, pig′ment, n. paint: any substance used for colouring: that which gives colour to animal and vegetable tissues.—adjs. ', '.—n. , a cell which secrets pigment. [L. pigmentum—pingĕre, to paint.]

Pigmy. Same as Pygmy.

Pignoration, pig-nō-rā′shun, n. act of giving in pledge: (law) a seizing and detaining of cattle straying and doing damage, till the damage be made good. [L. pignus, -oris, a pledge.]

Pike, pīk, n. a sharp point: a weapon with a long shaft and a sharp head like a spear, formerly used by foot-soldiers: a sharp-pointed hill or summit: a voracious fresh-water fish (so called from its pointed snout).—adj. Piked, ending in a point.—ns. ', the head of a pike or spear; ', the keeper of a turnpike; ', a tea-cake; ', a man armed with a pike: a man in charge of a turnpike gate; ', a common percoid fish; ', the staff or shaft of a pike: a staff with a pike at the end. [A.S. píc, piic, a pike; Dut. piek, Ger. pike, pieke; or Celt., as Gael. pìc, a pike, W. pig, a point.]

Pike, pīk, v.i. to go quickly.—n. a turnpike.—n. , a tramp.

Pila, pī′la, n. in archæology and art, a mortar. [L.]

Pilar, pī′lar, adj. hairy.—Also .

Pilaster, pi-las′tėr, n. a square column, partly built into, partly projecting from a wall.—adj. , furnished with pilasters or inserted pillars. [Fr. pilastre—It. pilastro—L. pīla, a pillar.]

Pilau, pi-law′, n. a dish, in origin purely Mohammedan, consisting of meat or fowl, boiled along with rice and spices.—Also ', ', ', '. [Pers. pilāw, pilaw.]

Pilch, pilch, n. (Shak.) a cloak or gown lined with furs: a flannel cloth or wrap for a child.—n. , one who wears a pilch: a scabbard. [A.S. pylce—Low L. pellicea—L. pellis, skin.]

Pilchard, pil′chärd, n. a sea-fish like the herring, but thicker and rounder, caught chiefly on the Cornish coast. [Prob. Celt., Ir. pilseir.]

Pile, pīl, n. a roundish mass: a heap of separate objects: combustibles, esp. for burning dead bodies: a large building: a heap of shot or shell: (elect.) a form of battery consisting of a number of dissimilar metal plates laid in pairs one above another, with an acid solution between them: (slang) a large amount of money: a fortune.—v.t. to lay in a pile or heap: to collect in a mass: to heap up: to fill above the brim.—n. , one who forms into a heap.—Pile arms, to place three muskets with fixed bayonets so that the butts remain firm, the muzzles close together pointing obliquely—also Stack arms. [Fr.,—L. pĭla, a ball.]

Pile, pīl, n. a pillar: a large stake driven into the earth to support foundations: a pyramidal figure in a heraldic bearing.—v.t. to drive piles into.—ns. ', ', an engine for driving down piles; ', a dwelling built on piles, a lake-dwelling; ', work or foundations made of piles; , a worm found eating into the timber of piles and ships: the teredo. [A.S. píl—L. pīla, a pillar.]

Pile, pīl, n. hair, fur: the nap on cloth, esp. if regular and closely set.—v.t. to furnish with pile, to make shaggy.—adj. , worn threadbare. [O. Fr. peil, poil—L. pĭlus, a hair.]

Piles, pīlz, n.pl. hæmorrhoids. [L. pĭla, a ball.]

Pileum, pil′ē-um, n. (ornith.) the top of the head from the base of the bill to the nape—including the forehead or front, the vertex or corona, and the hindhead or occiput:—pl. .

Pileus, pil′ē-us, n. a Roman conical cap: (bot.) the summit of the stipe bearing the hymenium in some fungi:—pl. ' (-ī).—adjs. ', ', fitted with a cap: having the form of a cap or hat; '.—n. ', a little pileus:—pl. '. [L. pileatus—pileus, a cap of felt.]

Pile-wort, pīl′-wurt, n. a buttercup, the celandine.

Pilfer, pil′fėr, v.i. to steal small things.—v.t. to steal by petty theft.—ns. '; ', ', petty theft.—adv. '. [Pelf.]

Pilgarlick, pil-gar′lik, n. a low fellow—perh. because pilled or made bald by a shameful disease.

Pilgrim, pil′grim, n. one who travels to a distance to visit a sacred place: a wanderer: a traveller: a silk screen formerly attached to the back of a woman's bonnet to protect the neck: (slang) a new-comer.—adj. of or pertaining to a pilgrim: like a pilgrim: consisting of pilgrims.—ns. ', the journey of a pilgrim: a journey to a shrine or other sacred place: the time taken for a pilgrimage: the journey of life, a lifetime; ', a flat bottle holed at the neck for a cord.—Pilgrim fathers, the colonists who went to America in the ship Mayflower, and founded New England in 1620; Pilgrim's shell, a cockle-shell used as a sign that one had visited the Holy Land; Pilgrim's staff, a long staff which pilgrims carried as a sort of badge. [O. Fr. pelegrin (Fr. pèlerin)—L. peregrinus, foreigner, stranger—pereger, a traveller—per, through, ager, land.]

Piliform, pil′i-form, adj. slender as a hair.—adjs. ', ', bearing hairs. [L. pilus, a hair, forma, form.]

Piling, pī′ling, n. the act of piling up: the driving of piles: a series of piles placed in order: pilework.

Pilkins, pil′kinz, n. (prov.) the naked oat, Avena nuda.—Also ', '.

Pill, pil, n. a little ball of medicine: anything nauseous which must be accepted: (slang) a doctor: a disagreeable person.—v.t. (slang) to blackball.—n. , a box for holding pills: a kind of one-horse carriage. [Fr. pilule—L. pilula, dim. of pĭla, a ball.]

Pill, pil, v.t. and v.i. to strip, peel: to deprive of hair.—n. (Spens.) skin. [Peel.]

Pillage, pil′āj, n. (Shak.) act of plundering: plunder: spoil, esp. taken in war.—v.t. to plunder or spoil.—v.t. Pill, to rob or plunder.—n. . [O. Fr.,—piller—L. pilāre, to plunder.]

Pillar, pil′ar, n. (archit.) a detached support, differing from a column in that it is not necessarily cylindrical, or of classical proportions: one who, or anything that, sustains: something resembling a pillar in appearance.—adj. ', supported by a pillar: having the form of a pillar.—ns. ', a short pillar in a street with receptacle for letters to be sent by post; ', ', a person in the early church who crucified the flesh by living on the summit of pillars in the open air, a stylite.—From pillar to post, from one state of difficulty to another: hither and thither. [O. Fr. piler (Fr. pilier)—Low L. pilare—L. pīla, a pillar.]

Pillau, pil-law′, n. See Pilau.

Pillicock, pil′i-kok, n. (Shak.) a term of endearment.

Pillion, pil′yun, n. a cushion for a woman behind a horseman: the cushion of a saddle. [Ir. pilliun, Gael. pillean, a pad, a pack-saddle—peall, a skin or mat, L. pellis, skin.]



Pillory, pil′o-ri, n. a wooden frame, supported by an upright pillar or post, and having holes through which the head and hands of a criminal were put as a punishment, disused in England since 1837.—vs.t. ', ', to punish in the pillory: to expose to ridicule:—pa.t. and pa.p. [O. Fr. pilori; ety. dub.; Prov. espitlori—Low L. speculatorium, a lookout—L. specularia, a window, speculum, a mirror.]

Pillow, pil′ō, n. a cushion filled with feathers, &c., for resting the head on: any cushion: a block of metal for bearing the end of a shaft, or the end of a bowsprit: the socket of a pivot.—v.t. to lay or rest on for support.—v.i. to rest the head on a pillow.—ns. ', ', ', ', a cover which can be drawn over a pillow; ', a last cup before going to bed.—adjs. ', supported by, or provided with, a pillow; , like a pillow: soft. [A.S. pyle—L. pulvīnus.]

Pillworm, pil′wurm, n. the millipede.

Pilocarpus, pī-lō-kär′pus, n. a shrub about four or five feet high, slightly branched, the branches erect, a native of Brazil.—n. , an alkaloid isolated from pilocarpus, with sudorific properties. [Gr. pilos, a cap, karpos, fruit.]

Pilose, pī′lōs, adj. hairy—also '.—n. '. [L. pilosus—pilus, hair.]

Pilot, pī′lut, n. the steersman of a ship: one who conducts ships in and out of a harbour, along a dangerous coast, &c.: a guide.—v.t. to conduct as a pilot: to direct through dangerous places.—ns. ', the skill of a pilot: the act of piloting: the fee or wages of pilots; ', a boat used by pilots for meeting or leaving ships; ', a coarse, stout kind of cloth for overcoats; ', a locomotive engine sent on before a train to clear its way, as a pilot; ', a fish of the mackerel family, so called from its having been supposed to guide sharks to their prey; ', the flag hoisted at the fore by a vessel needing a pilot; ', an enclosed place on deck to shelter the steering-gear and the pilot—also Wheel-house; ', a pea-jacket worn by seamen; , the caaing-whale (q.v.). [Fr. pilote—Dut. piloot, from peilen, to sound, loot (Ger. loth, Eng. lead), a sounding-lead.]

Pilule, pil′ūl, n. a little pill—also '.—adj. ', pertaining to pills.

Pilum, pī′lum, n. the heavy javelin used by Roman foot-soldiers:—pl. . [L.]

Pilus, pī′lus, n. one of the slender hairs on plants:—pl. . [L.]

Pimento, pi-men′to, n. allspice or Jamaica pepper: the tree producing it.—Also . [Port. pimenta—L. pigmentum, paint.]

Pimp, pimp, n. one who procures gratifications for the lust of others: a pander.—v.i. to pander.—adjs. ', petty: mean; '. [Fr. pimper, a nasalised form of piper, to pipe, hence to cheat.]

Pimpernel, pim′pėr-nel, n. a plant of the primrose family, with reddish flowers—also Poor man's weather-glass, Red chickweed.—n. , a genus of umbelliferous plants—anise, pimpernel, breakstone. [Fr. pimprenelle (It. pimpinella), either a corr. of a L. form bipennula, double-winged, dim. of bi-pennis—bis, twice, penna, feather; or from a dim. of L. pampinus, a vine-leaf.]

Pimple, pim′pl, n. a pustule: a small swelling.—adjs. ', ', having pimples. [A.S. pipel, nasalised from L. papula, a pustule.]

Pin, pin, n. a piece of wood or of metal used for fastening things together: a peg or nail: a sharp-pointed piece of wire with a rounded head for fastening clothes: anything that holds parts together: a piece of wood set up on end to be knocked down by a bowl, as in skittles: a peg used in musical instruments for fastening the strings: anything of little value.—v.t. to fasten with a pin: to fasten: to enclose: to seize and hold fast:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. pinned.—ns. ' (Shak.), a sharp, pointed buttock; ', ', a case or cushion for holding pins; ', a small or short feather.—adj. '.—ns. ', a place where a pin is fixed; ', a hole made by a pin: a very small opening; ', money allowed to a wife by her husband for private expenses, originally to buy pins; ', one who pins or fastens: a pin-maker: a pinafore: a head-dress with a lappet flying loose; ', the point of a pin: a trifle; ', a genus of ducks, one handsome species of which is a winter visitor to many parts of the British coast.—adj. ', having a long, narrow tail.—n. ', a contrate wheel in which the cogs are pins set into the disc: a form of firework constructed to revolve rapidly while burning.—v.t. ', to work flax-yarn on a wooden pin so as to make it more supple for ease in packing.—Pin-fire cartridge, a cartridge for breech-loading guns; Pins and needles, a feeling as of pricking under the skin, formication.—In merry pin, in a merry humour; On one's pins, on one's legs: in good condition. [M. E. pinne, like Ir. and Gael. pinne, and Ger. pinn, from L. pinna or penna, a feather.]

Pin, pin, n. an induration of the membranes of the eye, cataract. [A.S. pinn—Low L. pannus.]

Piña-cloth, pē′nya-kloth, n. a beautiful fabric made of the fibres of the leaves of the pine-apple plant.

Pinafore, pin′a-fōr, n. a loose covering of cotton or linen over a child's dress. [Pin + afore.]

Pinaster, pi-nas′tėr, n. the cluster-pine.

Pince-nez, pangs′-nā, n. a pair of eye-glasses with a spring for catching the nose. [Fr.]

Pincers. Same as Pinchers.

Pinch, pinsh, v.t. to grip hard: to squeeze between two hard or firm substances: to squeeze the flesh so as to give pain: to nip: to distress: to gripe.—v.i. to act with force: to bear or press hard: to live sparingly.—n. a close compression with the fingers: what can be taken up between the finger and thumb: an iron bar used as a lever for lifting weights, rolling wheels, &c.: a gripe: distress: oppression.—n. ', a niggard, a miser.—adj. Pinched, having the appearance of being tightly squeezed: hard pressed by want or cold: narrowed in size.—ns. ', one who, or that which, pinches; ', ', an instrument for gripping anything firmly, esp. for drawing out nails, &c.; ', ' ', a niggard.—adv. ', in a pinching manner.—At a pinch, in a case of necessity; Know where the shoe pinches, to know where the cause of trouble or difficulty is. [O. Fr. pincer; prob. Teut., cf. Dut. pitsen, to pinch.]

Pinchbeck, pinsh′bek, n. a yellow alloy of five parts of copper to one of zinc. [From Chris. Pinchbeck, an 18th-century London watchmaker.]

Pindari, Pindaree, pin′dar-ē, n. one of a band of freebooters who, after the overthrow of the Mogul empire in India, grew (1804-17) to be a formidable power in the Central Provinces. [Hind.]

Pindaric, pin-dar′ik, adj. after the manner of Pindar, one of the first of Greek lyric poets.—n. an ode in imitation of one of Pindar's: an ode of irregular metre.—n. , imitation of Pindar.

Pinder, pin′dėr, n. one who impounds stray cattle.—Also . [A.S. pyndan, to shut up—pund. Cf. Pen, v., and Pound, to shut up.]

Pine, pīn, n. a northern cone-bearing, evergreen, resinous tree, furnishing valuable timber.—adj. '.—ns. ', a rounded body about the size of a pea, of a slightly yellowish colour, situated upon the anterior pair of corpora quadrigemina, and connected with the optic thalami by two strands of nerve fibres termed its peduncles; ', a tropical plant, and its fruit, shaped like a pine-cone; ', a level sandy tract growing pines; ', a beetle which eats pine-leaves.—adjs. ', ', clad or crowned with pine-trees.—ns. ', the cone or strobilus of a pine-tree; ', a small fringilline bird of North America; ', a pinery; ', the circular leaf of the pine-tree; ', an oil obtained from the resinous exudations of pine and fir trees; ', a place where pine-apples are raised: a pine forest; ', a plantation of pine-trees: a collection of pine-trees for ornamental purposes; ', a wood of pine-trees: pine timber; ', a fibrous substance prepared from the leaves of the pine, and used for flannels, hosiery, and blankets in hospitals.—adjs. ', pertaining to, or obtained from, the pine: noting an acid consisting of the portion of common resin soluble in cold alcohol; ', inhabiting pine-woods; ', ', abounding in pine-trees.—Pine-tree money, silver money coined at Boston in the 17th century, and so called from the coins bearing the rude figure of a pine-tree on one side. [A.S. pín,—L. pīnus (for pic-nus),—pix, picis, pitch.]

Pine, pīn, v.i. to waste away under pain or mental distress: to languish with longing.—v.t. to grieve for: to bewail.—n. wasting pain: weary suffering.—Done to pine, starved to death. [A.S. pínian, to torment—L. pœna, punishment.]

Pinfold, pin′fōld, n. a pound or enclosure for cattle.—v.t. to impound. [For pind-fold=pound-fold.]

Ping, ping, n. the whistling sound of a bullet.—v.i. to produce such a sound.—n. , a kind of indoor lawn-tennis, played with battledores or small rackets over a net on a table. [From the sounds made by the strokes on the ball.]

Pingle, ping′gl, v.i. (prov.) to eat with feeble appetite: to dawdle.—adj. , dawdling, feeble.

Pinguid, ping′gwid, adj. fat.—n. . [L. pinguis, fat.]

Pinguin, pin′gwin, n. Same as Penguin.

Pinion, pin′yun, n. a wing: the joint of a wing most remote from the body of the bird: a small wheel with 'leaves' or teeth working into others.—v.t. to confine the wings of: to cut off the pinion: to confine by binding the arms. [O. Fr. pignon—L. pinna (=penna), wing. Cf. Pen, n.]

Pink, pingk, n. a boat with a narrow stern.—Also . [Dut.; Ger. pinke.]

Pink, pingk, v.t. to stab or pierce, esp. with a sword or rapier: to decorate by cutting small holes or scallops.—n. a stab: an eyelet.—adj. Pinked, pierced or worked with small holes.—n. , a tool for pinking or scalloping. [Either through A.S. pyngan, from L. pungĕre, to prick; or acc. to Skeat, a nasalised form of pick.]

Pink, pingk, n. a flower of any one of several plants of the genus Dianthus—carnation, &c.: a shade of light-red colour like that of the flower: a scarlet hunting-coat, also the person wearing such: the minnow, from the colour of its abdomen in summer: any type or example of excellence in its kind.—adj. of a pink colour.—n. '.—adj. ', somewhat pink.—n. , the root of the Carolina or Indian pink, a common vermifuge.—Pink of perfection, the very highest state of perfection: an example of highest perfection.—Dutch pink, a yellow lake obtained from quercitron bark: (slang) blood. [Prob. a nasalised form of Celt. pic, a point—from the finely notched edges of the petals.]

Pink, pingk, v.i. to wink: to half-shut.—n. ', a disease in horses in which the eye turns somewhat red.—adj. ', having pink eyes like a rabbit: having small or half-shut eyes.—adj. , winking. [Dut. pinken, to wink.]

Pinna, pin′a, n. a single leaflet of a pinnate leaf: a wing, fin, or the like: the auricle of the ear:—pl. '.—adjs. ', ', shaped like a feather: furnished with wings or fins.—adv. '.—adjs. ', cut as a leaf, half-way down or more, with the divisions narrow or acute; ' (bot.), pinnately divided; ', like a feather or fin: pinnate; ', moving by fins—also n.; ', ', fin-footed, as a bird; ', '.—n. ', one of the branchlets of a pinnate leaf: one of the lateral divisions of the finger-like stalks of an encrinite—also '.—Pinnate leaf, a compound leaf wherein a single petiole has several leaflets attached to each side of it. [L. pinna, a feather, dim. pinnula.]

Pinnace, pin′ās, n. a small vessel with oars and sails: a boat with eight oars: a man-of-war's boat. [Fr. pinasse—It. pinassa—L. pinus, a pine.]



Pinnacle, pin′a-kl, n. a slender turret: a high point like a spire: the highest point of a mountain, &c.—v.t. to build with pinnacles: to place on a pinnacle. [Fr. pinacle—Low L. pinna-culum, double dim. from L. pinna, a feather.]

Pinner, pin′ėr. See Pin.

Pinnet, pin′et, n. (Scott) a pinnacle.

Pinnock, pin′ok, n. the hedge-sparrow.

Pinnoed, pin′ōd, adj. (Spens.) pinioned.

Pinny, Pinnie, pin′ī, n. a pinafore. [Pinafore.]

Pinnywinkle, pin′i-wingk-l, n. an ancient form of torture for the fingers.—Also ', '. [A corr. of periwinkle.]

Pint, pīnt, n. a measure of capacity=½ quart or 4 gills: (med.) 12 ounces.—ns. ', a pot for holding a pint, esp. a pewter pot for beer: a seller or drinker of beer; ', a vessel for holding a Scotch pint. [Fr. pinte—Sp. pinta, mark—L. picta, pingĕre, to paint.]

Pintado, pin-tä′do, adj. painted, spotted.—n. the guinea-fowl: chintz, applied to all printed goods.

Pintail, Pin-wheel. See Pin.

Pintle, pin′tl, n. a little pin: a long iron bolt: the bolt or pin on which the rudder of a ship turns. [Dim. of pin.]

Pinxit, pingk′sit, v.i. and v.t. he or she painted—used in noting the painter of a picture, as Rubens pinxit. [L., 3d sing. perf. indic. of pingĕre, to paint.]

Pioned, pī′ō-ned, adj. (Shak.) overgrown with marsh-marigolds, that flower being still called peony around Stratford.

Pioneer, pī-ō-nēr′, n. one of a party of soldiers who clear the road before an army, sink mines, &c.: one who goes before to prepare the way for others.—v.t. to act as pioneer to.—ns. ' (Shak.), a pioneer; ' (Spens.), the work of pioneers: military works. [O. Fr. peonier (Fr. pionnier)—pion, a foot-soldier—Low L. pedo, pedonis, a foot-soldier—L. pes, pedis, a foot.]

Pious, pī′us, adj. showing love, affection, or respect towards parents: having reverence and love for the Deity: proceeding from religious feeling.—adv. ', in a pious manner.—adj. ', of a pious disposition. [Fr. pieux—L. pius.]

Pip, pip, n. a disease of fowls—also called Roup. [Low L. pipita—L. pipuita, rheum.]

Pip, pip, n. the seed of fruit. [Pippin.]

Pip, pip, n. one of the spots on dice or playing-cards. [Corr. of prov. pick—Fr. pique, a spade, at cards.]

Pip, pip, v.t. (slang) to blackball.

Pip, pip, v.i. to chirp, as a young bird.

Pipe, pīp, n. a musical wind instrument consisting of a long tube: any long tube: a tube of clay, &c., with a bowl at one end for smoking tobacco: a pipeful: the note of a bird: a cask containing two hogsheads.—v.i. to play upon a pipe: to whistle, to chirp: to make a shrill noise.—v.t. to play on a pipe: to call with a pipe, as on board ships: to give forth shrill notes: to supply with pipes, to convey by pipes.—ns. ', conveyance or distribution by pipes; ', a box softly lined to protect a pipe; ', a fine white plastic clay, very like kaolin, but containing a larger percentage of silica, used for making tobacco-pipes and fine earthenware.—v.t. to whiten with pipeclay: (slang) to blot out, as accounts.—adj. Piped (pīpt), tubulous or fistulous.—ns. ', a genus of fishes in the same order as the seahorse, having a long thin body covered with partially ossified plates, the head long, and the jaws elongated so as to form a tubular snout, hence the name; '; ', the laying down of pipes for gas, water, &c.; ', formerly an office in the Court of Exchequer in which the clerk of the pipe made out crown-land leases; '; ', a pipe-like roll, the earliest among the records of the Exchequer; ', the stalk of a tobacco-pipe: a stalk of grass; ', the wooden tube used as the stem of some tobacco-pipes; ', an implement for holding or turning metal pipes or pipe-fittings; ', the lilac; ' (Shak.), wine drawn from the cask, as distinguished from bottled wine; , a wrench with one movable jaw, both so shaped as to bite together when placed on a pipe and rotated round it.—Pipe down, to dismiss from muster, as a ship's company; Pipe off, to watch a house or person for purposes of theft; Pipe one's eye, to weep.—Drunk as a piper, very drunk; Pay the piper, to bear the expense. [A.S. pípe; Dut. pijp, Ger. pfeife.]

Piperaceous, pip-e-rā′shi-us, adj. pertaining to the ', the pepper family.—adj. ', produced from such plants.—n. , an alkaloid found in pepper. [L. piper, pepper.]

Pipette, pi-pet′, n. a small tube for removing small portions of a fluid from one vessel to another. [Fr.]

Pipi, pē′pē, n. the astringent pods of Cæsalpinia pipai, a Brazilian plant used in tanning.

Piping, pī′ping, adj. uttering a weak, shrill, piping sound, like the sick: sickly: feeble: boiling.—n. act of piping: sound of pipes: a system of pipes for any purpose: small cord used as trimming for dresses, &c.: a slip or cutting taken from a plant with a jointed stem.

Pipistrel, Pipistrelle, pip-is-trel′, n. a small reddish-brown bat. [Fr.]

Pipit, pip′it, n. a genus of birds resembling larks in plumage and wagtails in habits, the most common British species being the titlark.

Pipkin, pip′kin, n. a small earthen pot. [Pipe.]

Pippin, pip′in, n. a kind of apple. [O. Fr. pepin—L. pepo—Gr. pepōn, a melon.]

Pipul, pip′ul, n. the sacred fig-tree.—Also ', ', . [Hind.]

Pipy, pī′pi, adj. like a pipe: tubular.

Piquant, pē′kant, adj. stimulating to the taste: of a lively spark.—n. '.—adv. '. [Fr. piquant, pr.p. of piquer, to prick.]

Pique, pēk, n. an offence taken: a feeling of anger or vexation caused by wounded pride: spite: nicety: punctilio.—v.t. to wound the pride of: to offend: to pride or value (one's self):—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. piqued. [Fr. pique, a pike, pique; cf. Pick and Pike.]

Piqué, pē-kā′, n. a heavy cotton fabric having a surface corded or with a raised lozenge pattern: a similar pattern produced by quilting with the needle.—n. Piqué-work. [Fr.]

Piquet. Same as Picket.

Piquet, pi-ket′, n. a game at cards.—n. Pique, in piquet, the scoring of 30 points in one hand before the other side scores at all. [Picket.]

Piragua, pi-rä′gwä. Same as Periagua.

Pirate, pī′rāt, n. one who, without authority, attempts to capture ships at sea: a sea-robber: an armed vessel which, without legal right, plunders other vessels at sea: one who steals or infringes a copyright.—v.t. to rob at sea: to take without permission, as books or writings.—n. ', the crime of a pirate: robbery on the high seas: infringement of copyright.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to a pirate: practising piracy.—adv. '. [Fr.,—L. pirata—Gr. peiratēs—peiraein, to attempt.]

Piriform, pir′i-form, adj. pear-shaped.

Pirn, pirn, n. anything that revolves or twists: a reel, bobbin, &c.: the amount of thread wound on a shuttle or reel.

Pirnie, pir′ni, n. (Scot.) a striped woollen nightcap.

Pirogue, pi-rōg′. See Periagua.

Pirouette, pir-ōō-et′, n. a wheeling about, esp. in dancing: the whirling round of a horse on the same ground.—v.i. to execute a pirouette. [Fr.]

Pisces, pis′ēz, n. the Fishes, the twelfth sign of the zodiac.—ns. ', right of fishing in another man's waters; ', the scientific study of fishes; ', an angler:—fem. '.—adj. ', relating to fishes or fishing: fond of fishing—also '.—n. ', the taking of fish.—adjs. ', parasitic upon fishes; ', pertaining to pisciculture.—ns. ', the rearing of fish by artificial methods; ', a fish-culturist.—adjs. ', in shape like a fish: having the form of a fish; ', pertaining to fishes; ', feeding on fishes. [L. piscis, a fish.]



Piscina, pis-ī′na, n. a basin or tank, esp. one for holding fishes or for growing water-plants: a fish-pond: (archit.) a basin or sink on the south side of the altar in old churches, into which is emptied water used in washing any of the sacred vessels.—adj. , belonging to a fish-pond. [L., a fish-pond, a cistern—piscis, a fish.]

Pisé, pē-zā′, n. stiff earth or clay rammed down to form walls or floors. [Fr.]

Pish, pish, interj. expressing contempt. [Imit.]

Pisiform, pī′si-form, adj. pea-shaped. [L. pisum, pea, forma, shape.]

Pismire, pis′mīr, n. an ant or emmet. [Piss, from the strong smell of the ant-hill, A.S. mire, ant.]

Pisolite, pī′sō-līt, n. a coarse oolite or concretionary limestone in large globules.—adj. . [Gr. pisos, pea, lithos, stone.]

Piss, pis, v.i. to discharge urine or make water.—ns. ' (prov.), the dandelion; ', ', a variety of bitumen; ', a chamber-pot. [Fr. pisser; imit.]

Pistachio, pis-tā′shi-ō, n. the almond-flavoured pistachio-nut, the fruit of the , a small genus of trees of the cashew family, native to western Asia. [It.,—L. pistacium—Gr. pistakion—Pers. pistā.]