Chapter XXV: Part 25

||Pons (?), n.; pl. Pontes (#). [L., a bridge.] (Anat.) A bridge; -- ||applied to several parts which connect others, but especially to the ||pons Varolii, a prominent band of nervous tissue situated on the ||ventral side of the medulla oblongata and connected at each side with ||the hemispheres of the cerebellum; the mesocephalon. See Brain.

||Pons asinorum. [L., literally, bridge of asses.] See Asses' bridge, ||under Ass.

Pon"tage (?; 48), n. [LL. pontagium, from L. pons, pontis, a bridge: cf. F. pontage.] (O. Eng. Law) A duty or tax paid for repairing bridges. Ayliffe.

Pon*tee" (?), n. [F. pontil, pontis.] (Glass Making) An iron rod used by glass makers for manipulating the hot glass; -- called also, puntil, puntel, punty, and ponty. See Fascet.

Pon"tic (?), a. [L. Ponticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; the sea, especially, the Black Sea.] Of or pertaining to the Pontus, Euxine, or Black Sea.

||Pon"ti*fex (?), n.; pl. Pontifices (#). [L.] A high priest; a ||pontiff.

Pon"tiff (?), n. [F. pontife, L. pontifex, -ficis; pons, pontis, a bridge (perhaps originally, a way, path) + facere to make. Cf. Pontoon.] A high priest. Especially: (a) One of the sacred college, in ancient Rome, which had the supreme jurisdiction over all matters of religion, at the head of which was the Pontifex Maximus. Dr. W. Smith. (b) (Jewish Antiq.) The chief priest. (c) (R. C. Ch.) The pope.

Pon*tif"ic (?), a. [Cf. L. pontificius.] 1. Relating to, or consisting of, pontiffs or priests. "The pontific college with their augurs and flamens." Milton.

2. Of or pertaining to the pope; papal. Shenstone.

Pon*tif"ic*al (?), a. [L. pontificalis: cf. F. pontifical. See Pontiff.] 1. Of or pertaining to a pontiff, or high priest; as, pontifical authority; hence, belonging to the pope; papal.

2. Of or pertaining to the building of bridges. [R.]

Now had they brought the work by wondrous art Pontifical, a ridge
of pendent rock Over the vexed abyss.

Milton.

Pon*tif"ic*al, n. [F.] 1. A book containing the offices, or formulas, used by a pontiff. South.

2. pl. The dress and ornaments of a pontiff. "Dressed in full pontificals." Sir W. Scott.

Pon*tif`i*cal"i*ty (?), n. The state and government of the pope; the papacy. [R.] Bacon.

Pon*tif"ic*al*ly, adv. In a pontifical manner.

Pon*tif"i*cate (?), n. [L. pontificatus: cf. F. pontificat. See Pontiff.] 1. The state or dignity of a high priest; specifically, the office of the pope. Addison.

2. The term of office of a pontiff. Milman.

Pon*tif"i*cate (?), v. i. (R. C. Ch.) To perform the duty of a pontiff.

Pon"ti*fice (?), n. [L. pons, pontis, a bridge + facere to make. Cf. Pontiff.] Bridgework; structure or edifice of a bridge. [R.] Milton.

Pon`ti*fi"cial (?), a. [L. pontificius.] Papal; pontifical. [Obs.] "Pontificial writers." Burton.

Pon`ti*fi"cian (?), a. Of or pertaining to the pontiff or pope. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Pon`ti*fi"cian, n. One who adheres to the pope or papacy; a papist. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

Pon"til (?), n. Same as Pontee.

Pon"tile (?), a. [L. pontilis pertaining to a bridge.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pons Varolii. See Pons.

Pon"tine (?), a. [L. Pontinus or Pomptinus, an appellation given to a district in Latium, near Pometia.] Of or pertaining to an extensive marshy district between Rome and Naples. [Written also Pomptine.]

Pont"le*vis (?), n. [F., properly, a drawbridge.] (Man.) The action of a horse in rearing repeatedly and dangerously.

Pon*ton" (?), n. [F.] See Pontoon.

Pon*toon" (?), n. [F. ponton (cf. It. pontone), from L. ponto, -onis, fr. pons, pontis, a bridge, perhaps originally, a way, path: cf. Gr. &?; path, Skr. path, pathi, panthan. Cf. Punt a boat.] 1. (Mil.) A wooden flat-bottomed boat, a metallic cylinder, or a frame covered with canvas, India rubber, etc., forming a portable float, used in building bridges quickly for the passage of troops.

2. (Naut.) A low, flat vessel, resembling a barge, furnished with cranes, capstans, and other machinery, used in careening ships, raising weights, drawing piles, etc., chiefly in the Mediterranean; a lighter.

Pontoon bridge, a bridge formed with pontoons. -- Pontoon train, the carriages of the pontoons, and the materials they carry for making a pontoon bridge.

The French spelling ponton often appears in scientific works, but pontoon is more common form.

Pon*toon"ing, n. The act, art, or process of constructing pontoon bridges. "Army instruction in pontooning." Gen. W. T. Shermah.

Pont`vo*lant" (?; F. ?), n. [F. pont bridge + volant flying.] (Mil.) A kind of light bridge, used in sieges, for surprising a post or outwork which has but a narrow moat; a flying bridge.

Pon"ty (?), n. (Class Making) See Pontee.

Po"ny (?), n.; pl. Ponies (&?;). [Written also poney.] [Gael. ponaidh.] 1. A small horse.

2. Twenty-five pounds sterling. [Slang, Eng.]

3. A translation or a key used to avoid study in getting lessons; a crib. [College Cant]

4. A small glass of beer. [Slang]

Pony chaise, a light, low chaise, drawn by a pony or a pair of ponies. -- Pony engine, a small locomotive for switching cars from one track to another. [U.S.] -- Pony truck (Locomotive Engine), a truck which has only two wheels. -- Pony truss (Bridge Building), a truss which has so little height that overhead bracing can not be used.

Pood (?), n. [Russ. pud'.] A Russian weight, equal to forty Russian pounds or about thirty-six English pounds avoirdupois.

Poo"dle (?), n. [G. pudel.] (Zoˆl.) A breed of dogs having curly hair, and often showing remarkable intelligence in the performance of tricks.

Pooh (?), interj. [Of. imitative origin; cf. Icel. p.] Pshaw! pish! nonsense! -- an expression of scorn, dislike, or contempt.

Pooh`-pooh" (?), v. t. To make light of; to treat with derision or contempt, as if by saying pooh! pooh! [Colloq.] Thackeray.

||Poo"koo (?), n. [From the native name.] (Zoˆl.) A red African ||antelope (Kobus Vardoni) allied to the water buck.

Pool (?), n. [AS. pl; akin to LG. pool, pohl, D. poel, G. pfuhl; cf. Icel. pollr, also W. pwll, Gael. poll.] 1. A small and rather deep collection of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream; a reservoir for water; as, the pools of Solomon. Wyclif.

Charity will hardly water the ground where it must first fill a
pool.

Bacon.

The sleepy pool above the dam.

Tennyson.

2. A small body of standing or stagnant water; a puddle. "The filthy mantled pool beyond your cell." Shak.

Pool, n. [F. poule, properly, a hen. See Pullet.] [Written also poule.] 1. The stake played for in certain games of cards, billiards, etc.; an aggregated stake to which each player has contributed a snare; also, the receptacle for the stakes.

2. A game at billiards, in which each of the players stakes a certain sum, the winner taking the whole; also, in public billiard rooms, a game in which the loser pays the entrance fee for all who engage in the game; a game of skill in pocketing the balls on a pool table.

This game is played variously, but commonly with fifteen balls, besides one cue ball, the contest being to drive the most balls into the pockets.

He plays pool at the billiard houses.

Thackeray.

3. In rifle shooting, a contest in which each competitor pays a certain sum for every shot he makes, the net proceeds being divided among the winners.

4. Any gambling or commercial venture in which several persons join.

5. A combination of persons contributing money to be used for the purpose of increasing or depressing the market price of stocks, grain, or other commodities; also, the aggregate of the sums so contributed; as, the pool took all the wheat offered below the limit; he put $10,000 into the pool.

6. (Railroads) A mutual arrangement between competing lines, by which the receipts of all are aggregated, and then distributed pro rata according to agreement.

7. (Law) An aggregation of properties or rights, belonging to different people in a community, in a common fund, to be charged with common liabilities.

Pin pool, a variety of the game of billiards in which small wooden pins are set up to be knocked down by the balls. -- Pool ball, one of the colored ivory balls used in playing the game at billiards called pool. -- Pool snipe (Zoˆl.), the European redshank. [Prov. Eng.] -- Pool table, a billiard table with pockets.

Pool, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pooled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pooling.] To put together; to contribute to a common fund, on the basis of a mutual division of profits or losses; to make a common interest of; as, the companies pooled their traffic.

Finally, it favors the poolingof all issues.

U. S. Grant.

Pool, v. i. To combine or contribute with others, as for a commercial, speculative, or gambling transaction.

Pool"er (?), n. A stick for stirring a tan vat.

Pool"ing, n. (Law) The act of uniting, or an agreement to unite, an aggregation of properties belonging to different persons, with a view to common liabilities or profits.

Poon (?), n. [Canarese ponne.] A name for several East Indian, or their wood, used for the masts and spars of vessels, as Calophyllum angustifolium, C. inophullum, and Sterculia fútida; -- called also peon.

Poo"nac (?), n. A kind of oil cake prepared from the cocoanut. See Oil cake, under Cake.

Poon"ga oil` (?). A kind of oil used in India for lamps, and for boiling with dammar for pitching vessels. It is pressed from the seeds of a leguminous tree (Pongamia glabra).

Poop (?), n. (Arch.) See 2d Poppy.

Poop, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pooped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pooping.] [Cf. D. poepen. See Pop.] To make a noise; to pop; also, to break wind.

Poop, n. [F. poupe; cf. Sp. & Pg. popa, It. poppa; all fr. L. puppis.] (Naut.) A deck raised above the after part of a vessel; the hindmost or after part of a vessel's hull; also, a cabin covered by such a deck. See Poop deck, under Deck. See also Roundhouse.

With wind in poop, the vessel plows the sea.

Dryden.

The poop was beaten gold.

Shak.

Poop, v. t. (Naut.) (a) To break over the poop or stern, as a wave. "A sea which he thought was going to poop her." Lord Dufferin. (b) To strike in the stern, as by collision.

Pooped (?), p. p. & a. (Naut.) (a) Having a poop; furnished with a poop. (b) Struck on the poop.

Poop"ing (?), n. (Naut.) The act or shock of striking a vessel's stern by a following wave or vessel.

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Poor (?), a. [Compar. Poorer (?; 254); superl. Poorest.] [OE. poure or povre, OF. povre, F. pauvre, L. pauper; the first syllable of which is probably akin to paucus few (see Paucity, Few), and the second to parare to prepare, procure. See Few, and cf. Parade, Pauper, Poverty.] 1. Destitute of property; wanting in material riches or goods; needy; indigent.

It is often synonymous with indigent and with necessitous denoting extreme want. It is also applied to persons who are not entirely destitute of property, but who are not rich; as, a poor man or woman; poor people.

2. (Law) So completely destitute of property as to be entitled to maintenance from the public.

3. Hence, in very various applications: Destitute of such qualities as are desirable, or might naturally be expected; as: (a) Wanting in fat, plumpness, or fleshiness; lean; emaciated; meager; as, a poor horse, ox, dog, etc. "Seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed." Gen. xli. 19. (b) Wanting in strength or vigor; feeble; dejected; as, poor health; poor spirits. "His genius . . . poor and cowardly." Bacon. (c) Of little value or worth; not good; inferior; shabby; mean; as, poor clothes; poor lodgings. "A poor vessel." Clarendon. (d) Destitute of fertility; exhausted; barren; sterile; -- said of land; as, poor soil. (e) Destitute of beauty, fitness, or merit; as, a poor discourse; a poor picture. (f) Without prosperous conditions or good results; unfavorable; unfortunate; unconformable; as, a poor business; the sick man had a poor night. (g) Inadequate; insufficient; insignificant; as, a poor excuse.

That I have wronged no man will be a poor plea or apology at the
last day.

Calamy.

4. Worthy of pity or sympathy; -- used also sometimes as a term of endearment, or as an expression of modesty, and sometimes as a word of contempt.

And for mine own poor part, Look you, I'll go pray.

Shak.

Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing.

Prior.

5. Free from self-assertion; not proud or arrogant; meek. "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Matt. v. 3.

Poor law, a law providing for, or regulating, the relief or support of the poor. -- Poor man's treacle (Bot.), garlic; -- so called because it was thought to be an antidote to animal poison. [Eng] Dr. Prior. -- Poor man's weatherglass (Bot.), the red-flowered pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), which opens its blossoms only in fair weather. -- Poor rate, an assessment or tax, as in an English parish, for the relief or support of the poor. -- Poor soldier (Zoˆl.), the friar bird. -- The poor, those who are destitute of property; the indigent; the needy. In a legal sense, those who depend on charity or maintenance by the public. "I have observed the more public provisions are made for the poor, the less they provide for themselves." Franklin.

Poor (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A small European codfish (Gadus minutus); -- called also power cod.

Poor"box` (?), n. A receptacle in which money given for the poor is placed.

Poor"house` (?), n. A dwelling for a number of paupers maintained at public expense; an almshouse; a workhouse.

Poor"-john` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A small European fish, similar to the cod, but of inferior quality.

Poor-john and apple pies are all our fare.

Sir J. Harrington.

Poor"li*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being poorly; ill health.

Poor"ly, adv. 1. In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort; as, to live poorly.

2. With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or advantage; as, to do poorly in business.

3. Meanly; without spirit.

Nor is their courage or their wealth so low, That from his wars
they poorly would retire.

Dryden.

4. Without skill or merit; as, he performs poorly.

Poorly off, not well off; not rich.

Poor"ly, a. Somewhat ill; indisposed; not in health. "Having been poorly in health." T. Scott.

Poor"ness, n. The quality or state of being poor (in any of the senses of the adjective). Bacon.

Poor"-spir`it*ed (?), a. Of a mean spirit; cowardly; base. -- Poor"-spir`it*ed*ness, n.

Poor"-will` (?), n. [So called in imitation of its note.] (Zoˆl.) A bird of the Western United States (PhalÊnoptilus Nutalli) allied to the whip- poor-will.

Poor"-wil`lie (?), n. [So called in imitation of its note.] (Zoˆl.) The bar-tailed godwit. [Prov. Eng.]

Pop (?), n. [Of imitative origin. Cf. Poop.] 1. A small, sharp, quick explosive sound or report; as, to go off with a pop. Addison.

2. An unintoxicating beverage which expels the cork with a pop from the bottle containing it; as, ginger pop; lemon pop, etc. Hood.

3. (Zoˆl.) The European redwing. [Prov. Eng.]

Pop corn. (a) Corn, or maize, of peculiar excellence for popping; especially, a kind the grains of which are small and compact. (b) Popped corn; which has been popped.

Pop, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Popped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Popping.] 1. To make a pop, or sharp, quick sound; as, the muskets popped away on all sides.

2. To enter, or issue forth, with a quick, sudden movement; to move from place to place suddenly; to dart; -- with in, out, upon, off, etc.

He that killed my king . . . Popp'd in between the election and my
hopes.

Shak.

A trick of popping up and down every moment.

Swift.

3. To burst open with a pop, when heated over a fire; as, this corn pops well.

Pop, v. t. 1. To thrust or push suddenly; to offer suddenly; to bring suddenly and unexpectedly to notice; as, to pop one's head in at the door.

He popped a paper into his hand.

Milton.

2. To cause to pop; to cause to burst open by heat, as grains of Indian corn; as, to pop corn or chestnuts.

To pop off, to thrust away, or put off promptly; as, to pop one off with a denial. Locke. -- To pop the question, to make an offer of marriage to a lady. [Colloq.] Dickens.

Pop (?), adv. Like a pop; suddenly; unexpectedly. "Pop goes his plate." Beau. & Fl.

Pope (?), n. [AS. ppa, L. papa father, bishop. Cf. Papa, Papal.] 1. Any ecclesiastic, esp. a bishop. [Obs.] Foxe.

2. The bishop of Rome, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. See Note under Cardinal.

3. A parish priest, or a chaplain, of the Greek Church.

4. (Zoˆl.) A fish; the ruff.

Pope Joan, a game at cards played on a round board with compartments. -- Pope's eye, the gland surrounded with fat in the middle of the thigh of an ox or sheep. R. D. Blackmore. -- Pope's nose, the rump, or uropygium, of a bird. See Uropygium.

Pope"dom (?), n. [AS. ppedm.] 1. The place, office, or dignity of the pope; papal dignity. Shak.

2. The jurisdiction of the pope.

Pope"ling (?), n. 1. A petty or deputy pope.

2. An adherent of the pope. [R.] Marlowe.

Pop"e*lote (?), n. A word variously explained as "a little puppet," "a little doll," or "a young butterfly." Cf. Popet. [Obs.]

So gay a popelote, so sweet a wench.

Chaucer.

Pop"er*y (?), n. The religion of the Roman Catholic Church, comprehending doctrines and practices; -- generally used in an opprobrious sense.

Pop"et (?), n. A puppet. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pop"gun` (?), n. A child's gun; a tube and rammer for shooting pellets, with a popping noise, by compression of air.

Pop"in*jay (?), n. [OE. popingay, papejay, OF. papegai, papegaut; cf. Pr. papagai, Sp. & Pg. papagayo, It. pappagallo, LGr. &?;, NGr. &?;; in which the first syllables are perhaps imitative of the bird's chatter, and the last either fr. L. gallus cock, or the same word as E. jay, F. geai. Cf. Papagay.]

1. (Zoˆl.) (a) The green woodpecker. (b) A parrot.

The pye and popyngay speak they know not what.

Tyndale.

2. A target in the form of a parrot. [Scot.]

3. A trifling, chattering, fop or coxcomb. "To be so pestered with a popinjay." Shak.

Pop"ish (?), a. Of or pertaining to the pope; taught or ordained by the pope; hence, of or pertaining to the Roman Catholic Church; -- often used opprobriously. -- Pop"ish*ly, adv. -- Pop"ish*ness, n.

Pop"lar (?), n. [OE. popler, OF. poplier, F. peuplier, fr. L. populus poplar.] (Bot.) 1. Any tree of the genus Populus; also, the timber, which is soft, and capable of many uses.

The aspen poplar is Populus tremula and P. tremuloides; Balsam poplar is P. balsamifera; Lombardy poplar (P. dilatata) is a tall, spiry tree; white poplar is Populus alba.

2. The timber of the tulip tree; -- called also white poplar. [U.S.]

Po*plex"y (?), n. Apoplexy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pop"lin (?), n. [F. popeline, papeline.] A fabric of many varieties, usually made of silk and worsted, -- used especially for women's dresses.

Irish poplin, a fabric with silk warp and worsted weft, made in Ireland.

Pop*lit"e*al (?; 277), a. [From L. poples, -itis, the ham.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the ham; in the region of the ham, or behind the knee joint; as, the popliteal space.

Pop*lit"ic (?), a. (Anat.) Popliteal.

Pop"per (?), n. A utensil for popping corn, usually a wire basket with a long handle.

Pop"per, n. A dagger. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pop"pet (?), n. 1. See Puppet.

2. (Naut.) One of certain upright timbers on the bilge ways, used to support a vessel in launching. Totten.

3. (Mach.) An upright support or guide fastened at the bottom only.

Poppet head, Puppet head. See Headstock (a).

Pop"pied (?), a. [See 1st Poppy.] 1. Mingled or interspersed with poppies. "Poppied corn." Keats.

2. Affected with poppy juice; hence, figuratively, drugged; drowsy; listless; inactive. [R.]

The poppied sails doze on the yard.

Lowell.

Pop"ping (?), a. & n. from Pop.

Popping crease. (Cricket) See under Crease.

Pop"ple (?), v. i. [Cf. Pop.] To move quickly up and down; to bob up and down, as a cork on rough water; also, to bubble. Cotton.

Pop"ple, n. 1. The poplar. [Prov. Eng. & Local, U. S.]

2. Tares. [Obs.] "To sow popple among wheat." Bale.

Pop"py (?), n.; pl. Poppies (#). [OE. popy, AS. popig, L. papaver.] (Bot.) Any plant or species of the genus Papaver, herbs with showy polypetalous flowers and a milky juice. From one species (Papaver somniferum) opium is obtained, though all the species contain it to some extent; also, a flower of the plant. See Illust. of Capsule.

California poppy (Bot.), any yellow- flowered plant of the genus Eschscholtzia. -- Corn poppy. See under Corn. -- Horn, or Horned, poppy. See under Horn. -- Poppy bee (Zoˆl.), a leaf-cutting bee (Anthocopa papaveris) which uses pieces cut from poppy petals for the lining of its cells; -- called also upholsterer bee. -- Prickly poppy (Bot.), Argemone Mexicana, a yellow-flowered plant of the Poppy family, but as prickly as a thistle. -- Poppy seed, the seed the opium poppy (P. somniferum). -- Spatling poppy (Bot.), a species of Silene (S. inflata). See Catchfly.

{ Pop"py (?), Pop"py*head` (?), } n. [F. poupÈe doll, puppet. See Puppet.] (Arch.) A raised ornament frequently having the form of a final. It is generally used on the tops of the upright ends or elbows which terminate seats, etc., in Gothic churches.

Pop"u*lace (?), n. [F. populace, fr. It. popolaccio, popolazzo, fr. popolo people, L. populus. See People.] The common people; the vulgar; the multitude, -- comprehending all persons not distinguished by rank, office, education, or profession. Pope.

To . . . calm the peers and please the populace.

Daniel.

They . . . call us Britain's barbarous populaces.

Tennyson.

Syn. -- Mob; people; commonalty.

Pop"u*la*cy (?), n. Populace. [Obs.] Feltham.

Pop"u*lar (?), a. [L. popularis, fr. populus people: cf. F. populaire. See People.] 1. Of or pertaining to the common people, or to the whole body of the people, as distinguished from a select portion; as, the popular voice; popular elections. "Popular states." Bacon. "So the popular vote inclines." Milton.

The men commonly held in popular estimation are greatest at a
distance.

J. H. Newman.

2. Suitable to common people; easy to be comprehended; not abstruse; familiar; plain.

Homilies are plain popular instructions.

Hooker.

3. Adapted to the means of the common people; possessed or obtainable by the many; hence, cheap; common; ordinary; inferior; as, popular prices; popular amusements.

The smallest figs, called popular figs, . . . are, of all others,
the basest and of least account.

Holland.

4. Beloved or approved by the people; pleasing to people in general, or to many people; as, a popular preacher; a popular law; a popular administration.

5. Devoted to the common people; studious of the favor of the populace. [R.]

Such popular humanity is treason.

Addison.

6. Prevailing among the people; epidemic; as, a popular disease. [Obs.] Johnson.

Popular action (Law), an action in which any person may sue for penalty imposed by statute. Blackstone.

||Pop`u*la"res (?), n. pl. [L.] The people or the people's party, in ||ancient Rome, as opposed to the optimates.

Pop`u*lar"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Popularities (#). [L. popularitas an effort to please the people: cf. F. popularitÈ.] 1. The quality or state of being popular; especially, the state of being esteemed by, or of being in favor with, the people at large; good will or favor proceeding from the people; as, the popularity of a law, statesman, or a book.

A popularity which has lasted down to our time.

Macaulay.

2. The quality or state of being adapted or pleasing to common, poor, or vulgar people; hence, cheapness; inferiority; vulgarity.

This gallant laboring to avoid popularity falls into a habit of
affectation.

B. Jonson.

3. Something which obtains, or is intended to obtain, the favor of the vulgar; claptrap.

Popularities, and circumstances which . . . sway the ordinary
judgment.

Bacon.

4. The act of courting the favor of the people. [Obs.] "Indicted . . . for popularity and ambition." Holland.

5. Public sentiment; general passion. [R.]

A little time be allowed for the madness of popularity to cease.

Bancroft.

Pop`u*lar*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of making popular, or of introducing among the people.

Pop"u*lar*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Popularized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Popularizing (?).] [Cf. F. populariser.] To make popular; to make suitable or acceptable to the common people; to make generally known; as, to popularize philosophy. "The popularizing of religious teaching." Milman.

Pop"u*lar*i`zer (?), n. One who popularizes.

Pop"u*lar*ly, adv. In a popular manner; so as to be generally favored or accepted by the people; commonly; currently; as, the story was popularity reported.

The victor knight, Bareheaded, popularly low had bowed.

Dryden.

Pop"u*lar*ness, n. The quality or state of being popular; popularity. Coleridge.

Pop"u*late (?), a. [L. populus people. See People.] Populous. [Obs.] Bacon.

Pop"u*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Populated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Populating.] To furnish with inhabitants, either by natural increase or by immigration or colonization; to cause to be inhabited; to people.

Pop"u*late, v. i. To propagate. [Obs.]

Great shoals of people which go on to populate.

Bacon.

Pop`u*la"tion (?), n. [L. populatio: cf. F. population.] 1. The act or process of populating; multiplication of inhabitants.

2. The whole number of people, or inhabitants, in a country, or portion of a country; as, a population of ten millions.

Pop"u*la`tor (?), n. One who populates.

Pop"u*li*cide` (?), n. [L. populus people + caedere to kill.] Slaughter of the people. [R.]

Pop"u*lin (?), n. [L. populus poplar: cf. F. populine.] (Chem.) A glycoside, related to salicin, found in the bark of certain species of the poplar (Populus), and extracted as a sweet white crystalline substance.

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Pop`u*los"i*ty (?), n. [L. populositas: cf. F. populositÈ.] Populousness.[Obs.]

Pop"u*lous (?), a. [L. populosus, fr. populus people: cf. F. populeux.] 1. Abounding in people; full of inhabitants; containing many inhabitants in proportion to the extent of the country.

Heaven, yet populous, retains Number sufficient to possess her
realms.

Milton.

2. Popular; famous. [Obs.] J. Webster.

3. Common; vulgar. [Obs.] Arden of Feversham.

4. Numerous; in large number. [Obs.] "The dust . . . raised by your populous troops." Shak.

-- Pop"u*lous*ly, adv. -- Pop"u*lous*ness, n.

Po*raille" (?), n. [OF. pouraille. See Poor.] Poor people; the poor. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Por"bea`gle (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A species of shark (Lamna cornubica), about eight feet long, having a pointed nose and a crescent-shaped tail; -- called also mackerel shark. [Written also probeagle.]

Por"cate (?), a. [L. porca a ridge between two furrows.] (Zoˆl.) Having grooves or furrows broader than the intervening ridges; furrowed.

Por"ce*lain (?), n. (Bot.) Purslain. [Obs.]

Por"ce*lain (277), n. [F. porcelaine, It. porcellana, orig., the porcelain shell, or Venus shell (CyprÊa porcellana), from a dim. fr. L. porcus pig, probably from the resemblance of the shell in shape to a pig's back. Porcelain was called after this shell, either on account of its smoothness and whiteness, or because it was believed to be made from it. See Pork.] A fine translucent or semitransculent kind of earthenware, made first in China and Japan, but now also in Europe and America; -- called also China, or China ware.

Porcelain, by being pure, is apt to break.

Dryden.

Ivory porcelain, porcelain with a surface like ivory, produced by depolishing. See Depolishing. -- Porcelain clay. See under Clay. -- Porcelain crab (Zoˆl.), any crab of the genus Porcellana and allied genera (family PorcellanidÊ). They have a smooth, polished carapace. -- Porcelain jasper. (Min.) See Porcelanite. -- Porcelain printing, the transferring of an impression of an engraving to porcelain. -- Porcelain shell (Zoˆl.), a cowry.

Por"ce*lain*ized (?), a. (Geol.) Baked like potter's lay; -- applied to clay shales that have been converted by heat into a substance resembling porcelain.

{ Por`ce*la"ne*ous (?), Por`cel*la"ne*ous (?), } a. 1. Of or pertaining to porcelain; resembling porcelain; as, porcelaneous shells.

2. (Zoˆl.) Having a smooth, compact shell without pores; -- said of certain Foraminifera.

Por"ce*la*nite (?), n. [Cf. F. porcelanite.] (Min.) A semivitrified clay or shale, somewhat resembling jasper; -- called also porcelain jasper.

{ Por"ce*la`nous (?), Por"cel*la`nous (?), } a. Porcelaneous. Ure.

Porch (?), n. [F. porche, L. porticus, fr. porta a gate, entrance, or passage. See Port a gate, and cf. Portico.] 1. (Arch.) A covered and inclosed entrance to a building, whether taken from the interior, and forming a sort of vestibule within the main wall, or projecting without and with a separate roof. Sometimes the porch is large enough to serve as a covered walk. See also Carriage porch, under Carriage, and Loggia.

The graceless Helen in the porch I spied Of Vesta's temple.

Dryden.

2. A portico; a covered walk. [Obs.]

Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find find us.

Shak.

The Porch, a public portico, or great hall, in Athens, where Zeno, the philosopher, taught his disciples; hence, sometimes used as equivalent to the school of the Stoics. It was called "h poiki`lh stoa`. [See Poicile.]

Por"cine (?), a. [L. porcinus, from porcus a swine. See Pork.] Of or pertaining to swine; characteristic of the hog. "Porcine cheeks." G. Eliot.

Por"cu*pine (?), n. [OE. porkepyn, porpentine, OF. porc-espi, F. porc- Èpic (cf. It. porco spino, porco spinoso, Sp. puerco espino, puerco espin, fr. L. porcus swine + spina thorn, spine). The last part of the French word is perhaps a corruption from the It. or Sp.; cf. F. Èpi ear, a spike of grain, L. spica. See Pork, Spike a large nail, Spine.] 1. (Zoˆl.) Any Old Word rodent of the genus Hystrix, having the back covered with long, sharp, erectile spines or quills, sometimes a foot long. The common species of Europe and Asia (Hystrix cristata) is the best known.

2. (Zoˆl.) Any species of Erethizon and related genera, native of America. They are related to the true porcupines, but have shorter spines, and are arboreal in their habits. The Canada porcupine (Erethizon dorsatus) is a well known species.

Porcupine ant-eater (Zoˆl.), the echidna. -- Porcupine crab (Zoˆl.), a large spiny Japanese crab (Acantholithodes hystrix). -- Porcupine disease (Med.). See Ichthyosis. -- Porcupine fish (Zoˆl.), any plectognath fish having the body covered with spines which become erect when the body is inflated. See Diodon, and Globefish. -- Porcupine grass (Bot.), a grass (Stipa spartea) with grains bearing a stout twisted awn, which, by coiling and uncoiling through changes in moisture, propels the sharp-pointed and barbellate grain into the wool and flesh of sheep. It is found from Illinois westward. See Illustration in Appendix. -- Porcupine wood (Bot.), the hard outer wood of the cocoa palm; -- so called because, when cut horizontally, the markings of the wood resemble the quills of a porcupine.

Pore (?), n. [F., fr. L. porus, Gr. &?; a passage, a pore. See Fare, v.] 1. One of the minute orifices in an animal or vegetable membrane, for transpiration, absorption, etc.

2. A minute opening or passageway; an interstice between the constituent particles or molecules of a body; as, the pores of stones.

Pore, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Poring.] [OE. poren, of uncertain origin; cf. D. porren to poke, thrust, Gael. purr.] To look or gaze steadily in reading or studying; to fix the attention; to be absorbed; -- often with on or upon, and now usually with over."Painfully to pore upon a book." Shak.

The eye grows weary with poring perpetually on the same thing.

Dryden.

Pore"blind` (?), a. [Probably influenced by pore, v. See Purblind.] Nearsighted; shortsighted; purblind. [Obs.] Bacon.

Por"er (?), n. One who pores.

Por"gy (?), n.; pl. Porgies (#). [See Paugie.] (Zoˆl.) (a) The scup. (b) The sailor's choice, or pinfish. (c) The margate fish. (d) The spadefish. (e) Any one of several species of embiotocoids, or surf fishes, of the Pacific coast. The name is also given locally to several other fishes, as the bur fish. [Written also porgee, porgie, and paugy.]

||Po*rif"e*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. porus pore + ferre to bear.] ||(Zoˆl.) A grand division of the Invertebrata, including the sponges; ||-- called also SpongiÊ, Spongida, and Spongiozoa. The principal ||divisions are CalcispongiÊ, Keratosa or FibrospongiÊ, and Silicea.

Po*rif"er*an (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of the Polifera.

||Po*rif`e*ra"ta (?), n. pl. [NL.] The Polifera.

Po"ri*form (?), a. [L. porus pore + -form: cf. F. poriforme.] Resembling a pore, or small puncture.

Po"rime (?), n. [Gr. &?; practicable.] (Math.) A theorem or proposition so easy of demonstration as to be almost self-evident. [R.] Crabb.

Por"i*ness (?), n. Porosity. Wiseman.

Po"rism (?), n. [Gr. &?; a thing procured, a deduction from a demonstration, fr. &?; to bring, provide: cf. F. porisme.] 1. (Geom.) A proposition affirming the possibility of finding such conditions as will render a certain determinate problem indeterminate or capable of innumerable solutions. Playfair.

2. (Gr. Geom.) A corollary. Brande & C.

Three books of porisms of Euclid have been lost, but several attempts to determine the nature of these propositions and to restore them have been made by modern geometers.

{ Po`ris*mat"ic (?), Po`ris*mat"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to a porism; poristic.

{ Po*ris"tic (?), Po*ris"tic*al (?), } a.[Gr. &?; for providing, &?; provided.] Of or pertaining to a porism; of the nature of a porism.

Po"rite (?), n. [Cf. F. porite. See Pore, n.] (Zoˆl.) Any coral of the genus Porites, or family PoritidÊ.

||Po*ri"tes (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. po`ros a pore.] (Zoˆl.) An important ||genus of reef-building corals having small twelve-rayed calicles, and ||a very porous coral. Some species are branched, others grow in large ||massive or globular forms.

Pork (?), n. [F. porc, L. porcus hog, pig. See Farrow a litter of pigs, and cf. Porcelain, Porpoise.] The flesh of swine, fresh or salted, used for food.

Pork"er (?), n. A hog. Pope.

Pork"et (?), n. [Dim. of F. porc. See Pork.] A young hog; a pig. [R.] Dryden. W. Howitt.

Pork"ling (?), n. A pig; a porket. Tusser.

Pork"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) The coarse-grained brownish yellow wood of a small tree (Pisonia obtusata) of Florida and the West Indies. Also called pigeon wood, beefwood, and corkwood.

Por`ne*ras"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; harlot + &?; to love.] Lascivious; licentious. [R.] F. Harrison.

Por`no*graph"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to pornography; lascivious; licentious; as, pornographic writing.

Por*nog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?; a harlot + -graphy.] 1. Licentious painting or literature; especially, the painting anciently employed to decorate the walls of rooms devoted to bacchanalian orgies.

2. (Med.) A treatise on prostitutes, or prostitution.

Po*ros"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. porositÈ.] The quality or state of being porous; -- opposed to density.

Po*rot"ic (?), n. [Gr. &?; callus.] (Med.) A medicine supposed to promote the formation of callus.

Por"ous (?), a. [Cf. F. poreux. See Pore, n.] Full of pores; having interstices in the skin or in the substance of the body; having spiracles or passages for fluids; permeable by liquids; as, a porous skin; porous wood. "The veins of porous earth." Milton.

Por"ous*ly, adv. In a porous manner.

Por"ous*ness, n. 1. The quality of being porous.

2. The open parts; the interstices of anything. [R.]

They will forcibly get into the porousness of it.

Sir K. Digby.

Por"pen*tine (?), n. Porcupine. [Obs.] Shak.

Por"pesse (?), n. A porpoise. [Obs.]

Por`phy*ra"ceous (?), a. Porphyritic.

Por"phyre (?), n. Porphyry. [Obs.] Locke.

Por"phy*rite (?), n. (Min.) A rock with a porphyritic structure; as, augite porphyrite.

Por`phy*rit"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. porphyritique.] (Min.) Relating to, or resembling, porphyry, that is, characterized by the presence of distinct crystals, as of feldspar, quartz, or augite, in a relatively fine-grained base, often aphanitic or cryptocrystalline.

Por`phy*ri*za"tion (?), n. The act of porphyrizing, or the state of being porphyrized.

Por`phy*rize (?), v. t. [Cf. F. porphyriser, Gr. &?; to purplish.] To cause to resemble porphyry; to make spotted in composition, like porphyry.

Por`phy*ro*gen"i*tism (?), n. [LL. porphyro genitus, fr. Gr. &?;; &?; purple + root of &?; to be born.] The principle of succession in royal families, especially among the Eastern Roman emperors, by which a younger son, if born after the accession of his father to the throne, was preferred to an elder son who was not so born. Sir T. Palgrave.

Por"phy*ry (?), n.; pl. Porphyries (#). [F. porphyre, L. porphyrites, fr. Gr. &?; like purple, fr. &?; purple. See Purple.] (Geol.) A term used somewhat loosely to designate a rock consisting of a fine-grained base (usually feldspathic) through which crystals, as of feldspar or quartz, are disseminated. There are red, purple, and green varieties, which are highly esteemed as marbles.

Porphyry shell (Zoˆl.), a handsome marine gastropod shell (Oliva porphyria), having a dark red or brown polished surface, marked with light spots, like porphyry.

||Por"pi*ta (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; brooch.] (Zoˆl.) A genus of ||bright-colored Siphonophora found floating in the warmer parts of the ||ocean. The individuals are round and disk-shaped, with a large zooid ||in the center of the under side, surrounded by smaller nutritive and ||reproductive zooids, and by slender dactylozooids near the margin. ||The disk contains a central float, or pneumatocyst.

Por"poise (?), n. [OE. porpeys, OF. porpeis, literally, hog fish, from L. porcus swine + piscis fish. See Pork, and Fish.] 1. (Zoˆl.) Any small cetacean of the genus PhocÊna, especially P. communis, or P. phocÊna, of Europe, and the closely allied American species (P. Americana). The color is dusky or blackish above, paler beneath. They are closely allied to the dolphins, but have a shorter snout. Called also harbor porpoise, herring hag, puffing pig, and snuffer.

2. (Zoˆl.) A true dolphin (Delphinus); -- often so called by sailors.

Skunk porpoise, or Bay porpoise (Zoˆl.), a North American porpoise (Lagenorhynchus acutus), larger than the common species, and with broad stripes of white and yellow on the sides. See Illustration in Appendix.

||Por`po*ri"no (?), n. [It.] A composition of quicksilver, tin, and ||sulphur, forming a yellow powder, sometimes used by mediÊval artists, ||for the sake of economy, instead of gold. Fairholt.

Por"pus (?), n. A porpoise. [Obs.] Swift.

Por*ra"ceous (?), a. [L. porraceus, from porrum, porrus, a leek.] Resembling the leek in color; greenish. [R.] "Porraceous vomiting." Wiseman.

Por*rect" (?), a. [L. porrectus, p. p. of porrigere to stretch out before one's self, to but forth.] Extended horizontally; stretched out.

Por*rec"tion (?), n. [L. porrectio: cf. F. porrection.] The act of stretching forth.

Por"ret (?), n. [F. porrette, fr. L. porrum, porrus, leek. See Porraceous.] A scallion; a leek or small onion. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Por"ridge (?), n. [Probably corrupted fr. pottage; perh. influenced by OE. porree a kind of pottage, OF. porrÈe, fr. L. porrum, porrus, leek. See Pottage, and cf. Porringer.] A food made by boiling some leguminous or farinaceous substance, or the meal of it, in water or in milk, making of broth or thin pudding; as, barley porridge, milk porridge, bean porridge, etc.

Por"rin*ger (?), n. [OE. pottanger, for pottager; cf. F. potager a soup basin. See Porridge.] A porridge dish; esp., a bowl or cup from which children eat or are fed; as, a silver porringer. Wordsworth.

Port (?), n. [From Oporto, in Portugal, i. e., &?; porto the port, L. portus. See Port harbor.] A dark red or purple astringent wine made in Portugal. It contains a large percentage of alcohol.

Port, n. [AS. port, L. portus: cf. F. port. See Farm, v., Ford, and 1st, 3d, & 4h Port.] 1. A place where ships may ride secure from storms; a sheltered inlet, bay, or cove; a harbor; a haven. Used also figuratively.

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Peering in maps for ports and piers and roads.

Shak.

We are in port if we have Thee.

Keble.

2. In law and commercial usage, a harbor where vessels are admitted to discharge and receive cargoes, from whence they depart and where they finish their voyages.

Free port. See under Free. -- Port bar. (Naut,) (a) A boom. See Boom, 4, also Bar, 3. (b) A bar, as of sand, at the mouth of, or in, a port. -- Port charges (Com.), charges, as wharfage, etc., to which a ship or its cargo is subjected in a harbor. -- Port of entry, a harbor where a customhouse is established for the legal entry of merchandise. -- Port toll (Law), a payment made for the privilege of bringing goods into port. -- Port warden, the officer in charge of a port; a harbor master.

Port (?), n. [F. porte, L. porta, akin to portus; cf. AS. porte, fr. L. porta. See Port a harbor, and cf. Porte.] 1. A passageway; an opening or entrance to an inclosed place; a gate; a door; a portal. [Archaic]

Him I accuse The city ports by this hath entered.

Shak.

Form their ivory port the cherubim Forth issuing.

Milton.

2. (Naut.) An opening in the side of a vessel; an embrasure through which cannon may be discharged; a porthole; also, the shutters which close such an opening.

Her ports being within sixteen inches of the water.

Sir W. Raleigh.

3. (Mach.) A passageway in a machine, through which a fluid, as steam, water, etc., may pass, as from a valve to the interior of the cylinder of a steam engine; an opening in a valve seat, or valve face.

Air port, Bridle port, etc. See under Air, Bridle, etc. -- Port bar (Naut.), a bar to secure the ports of a ship in a gale. -- Port lid (Naut.), a lid or hanging for closing the portholes of a vessel. -- Steam port, &and; Exhaust port (Steam Engine), the ports of the cylinder communicating with the valve or valves, for the entrance or exit of the steam, respectively.

Port, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ported; p. pr. & vb. n. Porting.] [F. porter, L. portare to carry. See Port demeanor.] 1. To carry; to bear; to transport. [Obs.]

They are easily ported by boat into other shires.

Fuller.

2. (Mil.) To throw, as a musket, diagonally across the body, with the lock in front, the right hand grasping the small of the stock, and the barrel sloping upward and crossing the point of the left shoulder; as, to port arms.

Began to hem him round with ported spears.

Milton.

Port arms, a position in the manual of arms, executed as above.

Port, n. [F. port, fr. porter to carry, L. portare, prob. akin to E. fare, v. See Port harbor, and cf. Comport, Export, Sport.] The manner in which a person bears himself; deportment; carriage; bearing; demeanor; hence, manner or style of living; as, a proud port. Spenser.

And of his port as meek as is a maid.

Chaucer.

The necessities of pomp, grandeur, and a suitable port in the
world.

South.

Port, n. [Etymology uncertain.] (Naut.) The larboard or left side of a ship (looking from the stern toward the bow); as, a vessel heels to port. See Note under Larboard. Also used adjectively.

Port, v. t. (Naut.) To turn or put to the left or larboard side of a ship; -- said of the helm, and used chiefly in the imperative, as a command; as, port your helm.

||Por"ta (?), n.; pl. PortÊ (#). [L., a gate. See Port a hole.] (Anat.) ||(a) The part of the liver or other organ where its vessels and nerves ||enter; the hilus. (b) The foramen of Monro. B. G. Wilder.

Port`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being portable; fitness to be carried.

Port"a*ble (?), a. [L. portabilis, fr. portare to carry: cf. F. portable. See Port demeanor.] 1. Capable of being borne or carried; easily transported; conveyed without difficulty; as, a portable bed, desk, engine. South.

2. Possible to be endured; supportable. [Obs.]

How light and portable my pain seems now!

Shak.

Portable forge. See under Forge. -- Portable steam engine. See under Steam engine.

Port"a*ble*ness, n. The quality or state of being portable; portability.

Por"tace (?; 48), n. See Portass. [Obs.]

Port"age (?; 48), n. [From 2d Port.] (Naut.) (a) A sailor's wages when in port. (b) The amount of a sailor's wages for a voyage.

Port"age, n. [3d Port.] A porthole. [Obs.] Shak.

Por"tage (?), n. [F., from porter to carry. See Port to carry.] 1. The act of carrying or transporting.

2. The price of carriage; porterage. Bp. Fell.

3. Capacity for carrying; tonnage. [Obs.] Hakluyt.

4. A carry between navigable waters. See 3d Carry.

Por"tage (?), v. t. & i. To carry (goods, boats, etc.) overland between navigable waters.

Por"tage group` (?). [So called from the township of Portage in New York.] (Geol.) A subdivision of the Chemung period in American geology. See Chart of Geology.

Por"ta*gue (?), n. [See Portuguese.] A Portuguese gold coin formerly current, and variously estimated to be worth from three and one half to four and one half pounds sterling. [Obs.] [Written also portegue and portigue.]

Ten thousand portagues, besides great pearls.

Marlowe.

Por"tal (?), n. [OF. portal, F. portail, LL. portale, fr. L. porta a gate. See Port a gate.] 1. A door or gate; hence, a way of entrance or exit, especially one that is grand and imposing.

Thick with sparkling orient gems The portal shone.

Milton.

From out the fiery portal of the east.

Shak.

2. (Arch.) (a) The lesser gate, where there are two of different dimensions. (b) Formerly, a small square corner in a room separated from the rest of the apartment by wainscoting, forming a short passage to another apartment. (c) By analogy with the French portail, used by recent writers for the whole architectural composition which surrounds and includes the doorways and porches of a church.

3. (Bridge Building) The space, at one end, between opposite trusses when these are terminated by inclined braces.

4. A prayer book or breviary; a portass. [Obs.]

Portal bracing (Bridge Building), a combination of struts and ties which lie in the plane of the inclined braces at a portal, serving to transfer wind pressure from the upper parts of the trusses to an abutment or pier of the bridge.

Por"tal (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to a porta, especially the porta of the liver; as, the portal vein, which enters the liver at the porta, and divides into capillaries after the manner of an artery.

Portal is applied to other veins which break up into capillaries; as, the renal portal veins in the frog.

||Por`ta*men"to (?), n. [It., fr. portare to carry.] (Mus.) In singing, ||or in the use of the bow, a gradual carrying or lifting of the voice ||or sound very smoothly from one note to another; a gliding from tone ||to tone.

Por"tance (?), n. See Port, carriage, demeanor. [Obs.] Spenser. Shak.

Por"tass (?), n. [OF. porte-hors a kind of prayer book, so called from being portable; cf. LL. portiforium.] A breviary; a prayer book. [Written variously portace, portasse, portesse, portise, porthose, portos, portus, portuse, etc.] [Obs.] Spenser. Camden.

By God and by this porthors I you swear.

Chaucer.

Por"tate (?), a. [L. portatus, p. p. of portare to carry.] (Her.) Borne not erect, but diagonally athwart an escutcheon; as, a cross portate.

Por"ta*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. portatif.] 1. Portable. [Obs.]

2. (Physics) Capable of holding up or carrying; as, the portative force of a magnet, of atmospheric pressure, or of capillarity.

Port"cluse (?), n. A portcullis. [Obs.]

Port`cray"on (?), n. [F. porte- crayon; porter to carry + crayon a crayon.] A metallic handle with a clasp for holding a crayon.

Port*cul"lis (?), n. [OF. porte coulisse, coleÔce, a sliding door, fr. L. colare, colatum, to filter, to strain: cf. F. couler to glide. See Port a gate, and cf. Cullis, Colander.] 1. (Fort.) A grating of iron or of timbers pointed with iron, hung over the gateway of a fortress, to be let down to prevent the entrance of an enemy. "Let the portcullis fall." Sir W. Scott.

She . . . the huge portcullis high updrew.

Milton.

2. An English coin of the reign of Elizabeth, struck for the use of the East India Company; -- so called from its bearing the figure of a portcullis on the reverse.

Port*cul"lis, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Portcullised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Portcullising.] To obstruct with, or as with, a portcullis; to shut; to bar. [R.] Shak.

Porte (?), n. [F. porte a gate, L. porta. See Port a gate.] The Ottoman court; the government of the Turkish empire, officially called the Sublime Porte, from the gate (port) of the sultan's palace at which justice was administered.

||Porte"-co`chËre" (?), n. [F. See Port a gate, and Coach.] (Arch.) A ||large doorway allowing vehicles to drive into or through a building. ||It is common to have the entrance door open upon the passage of the ||porte-cochËre. Also, a porch over a driveway before an entrance door.

Port"ed (?), a. Having gates. [Obs.]

We took the sevenfold-ported Thebes.

Chapman.

Por"te*gue (?), n. See Portague. [Obs.]

Porte"mon*naie` (?), n. [F., fr. porter to carry + monnaie money.] A small pocketbook or wallet for carrying money.

Por*tend" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Portended; p. pr. & vb. n. Portending.] [L. portendre, portentum, to foretell, to predict, to impend, from an old preposition used in comp. + tendere to stretch. See Position, Tend.] 1. To indicate (events, misfortunes, etc.) as in future; to foreshow; to foretoken; to bode; -- now used esp. of unpropitious signs. Bacon.

Many signs portended a dark and stormy day.

Macaulay.

2. To stretch out before. [R.] "Doomed to feel the great Idomeneus' portended steel." Pope.

Syn. -- To foreshow; foretoken; betoken; forebode; augur; presage; foreshadow; threaten.

Por*ten"sion (?), n. The act of foreshowing; foreboding. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Por*tent" (?; 277), n. [L. portentum. See Portend.] That which portends, or foretoken; esp., that which portends evil; a sign of coming calamity; an omen; a sign. Shak.

My loss by dire portents the god foretold.

Dryden.

Por*tent"ive (?), a. Presaging; foreshadowing.

Por*tent"ous (?), a. [L. portentosus.] 1. Of the nature of a portent; containing portents; foreshadowing, esp. foreshadowing ill; ominous.

For, I believe, they are portentous things.

Shak.

Victories of strange and almost portentous splendor.

Macaulay.

2. Hence: Monstrous; prodigious; wonderful; dreadful; as, a beast of portentous size. Roscommon.

-- Por*tent"ous*ly, adv. -- Por*tent"ous*ness, n.

Por"ter (?), n. [F. portier, L. portarius, from porta a gate, door. See Port a gate.] A man who has charge of a door or gate; a doorkeeper; one who waits at the door to receive messages. Shak.

To him the porter openeth.

John x. 3.

Por"ter, n. [F. porteur, fr. porter to carry, L. portare. See Port to carry.] 1. A carrier; one who carries or conveys burdens, luggage, etc.; for hire.

2. (Forging) A bar of iron or steel at the end of which a forging is made; esp., a long, large bar, to the end of which a heavy forging is attached, and by means of which the forging is lifted and handled in hammering and heating; -- called also porter bar.

3. A malt liquor, of a dark color and moderately bitter taste, possessing tonic and intoxicating qualities.

Porter is said to be so called as having been first used chiefly by the London porters, and this application of the word is supposed to be not older than 1750.

Por"ter*age (?), n. 1. The work of a porter; the occupation of a carrier or of a doorkeeper.

2. Money charged or paid for the carriage of burdens or parcels by a porter.

Por"ter*ess, n. See Portress.

Por"ter*house, n. A house where porter is sold.

Porterhouse steak, a steak cut from a sirloin of beet, including the upper and under part.

Por"tesse (?), n. See Porteass. [Obs.] Tyndale.

Port"fire` (?), n. A case of strong paper filled with a composition of niter, sulphur, and mealed powder, -- used principally to ignite the priming in proving guns, and as an incendiary material in shells.

Port*fol"io (?), n. [F. portefeuille; porter to carry + feuille a leaf. See Port to carry, and Folio.] 1. A portable case for holding loose papers, prints, drawings, etc.

2. Hence: The office and functions of a minister of state or member of the cabinet; as, to receive the portfolio of war; to resign the portfolio.

Port"glave (?), n. [F. porte- glaive; porter to carry + glaive a sword.] A sword bearer. [Obs.]

{ Port"greve` (?), Port"grave` (?), }[AS. portgerfa; port a harbor + gerfa a reeve or sheriff. See Reeve a steward, and cf. Portreeve.] In old English law, the chief magistrate of a port or maritime town.; a portreeve. [Obs.] Fabyan.

Port"hole` (?), n. (Naut.) An embrasure in a ship's side. See 3d Port.

Port"hook` (?), n. (Naut.) One of the iron hooks to which the port hinges are attached. J. Knowles.

Port"hors` (?), n. See Portass. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Por"ti*co, n.; pl. Porticoes (#) or Porticos. [It., L. porticus. See Porch.] (Arch.) A colonnade or covered ambulatory, especially in classical styles of architecture; usually, a colonnade at the entrance of a building.

Por"ti*coed (?), a. Furnished with a portico.

||Por`tiËre"" (?), n. [F., fr. porte gate, door. See Port a gate.] A ||curtain hanging across a doorway.

Por"ti*gue (?), n. See Portague. Beau. & Fl.

Por"tin*gal (?), a. Of or pertaining to Portugal; Portuguese. [Obs.] -- n. A Portuguese. [Obs.]