Chapter IX: Part 9

Pec"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; curdled.] (Chem.) Of or pertaining to pectin; specifically, designating an acid obtained from ordinary vegetable jelly (pectin) as an amorphous substance, tough and horny when dry, but gelatinous when moist.

Pec"tin (?), n. [Gr. &?; curdled, congealed, from &?; to make fast or stiff: cf. F. pectine.] (Chem.) One of a series of carbohydrates, commonly called vegetable jelly, found very widely distributed in the vegetable kingdom, especially in ripe fleshy fruits, as apples, cranberries, etc. It is extracted as variously colored, translucent substances, which are soluble in hot water but become viscous on cooling.

Pec"ti*nal (?), a. [L. pecten comb. See Pectinate.] Of or pertaining to a comb; resembling a comb.

Pec"ti*nal, n. A fish whose bone&?; resemble comb teeth. Sir T. Browne.

{ Pec"ti*na`te (?), Pec"ti*na`ted (?), } a. [L. pectinatus, p. pr. of pectinare to comb, from pecten, -inis, a comb; cf. Gr. &?; to comb, AS. feax hair, OHG. fahs, E. paxwax.] 1. Resembling the teeth of a comb.

2. (Nat. Hist.) Having very narrow, close divisions, in arrangement and regularity resembling those of a comb; comblike; as, a pectinate leaf; pectinated muscles. See Illust. (e) of AntennÊ.

3. Interlaced, like two combs. [R.] "Our fingers pectinated, or shut together." Sir T. Browne.

Pectinate claw (Zoˆl.), a claw having a serrate edge, found in some birds, and supposed to be used in cleaning the feathers.

Pec"ti*nate*ly (?), adv. In a pectinate manner.

Pec`ti*na"tion (?), n. 1. The state of being pectinated; that which is pectinated. Sir T. Browne.

2. The act of combing; the combing of the head.

3. (Nat. Hist.) Comblike toothing.

Pec*tin"e*al (?), a. [See Pecten.] (Anat.) (a) Of or pertaining to the pecten. (b) Relating to, or connected with, the pubic bone.

Pec*tin"i*branch (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of the Pectinibranchiata. Also used adjectively.

||Pec`ti*ni*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Pecten, and Branchia.] ||(Zoˆl.) A division of Gastropoda, including those that have a ||comblike gill upon the neck.

Pec`ti*ni*bran"chi*ate (?), a. [L. pecten, -inis, a comb + E. branchiate.] (Zoˆl.) Having pectinated gills.

Pec*tin"i*form (?), a. Comblike in form.

Pec*tize" (?), v. i. [Gr. &?; solid.] To congeal; to change into a gelatinous mass. [R.] H. Spencer.

Pec"to*lite (?), n. [L. pecten a comb + -lite.] (Min.) A whitish mineral occurring in radiated or fibrous crystalline masses. It is a hydrous silicate of lime and soda.

Pec"to*ral (?), a. [L. pectoralis, fr. pectus, -oris the breast; cf. F. pectoral.] 1. Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as, the pectoral muscles.

2. Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs; as, a pectoral remedy.

3. (Zoˆl.) Having the breast conspicuously colored; as, the pectoral sandpiper.

Pectoral arch, or Pectoral girdle (Anat.), the two or more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate skeleton to which the fore limbs are articulated; the shoulder girdle. In man it consists of two bones, the scapula and clavicle, on each side. -- Pectorial cross (Eccl.), a cross worn on the breast by bishops and abbots, and sometimes also by canons. - - Pectorial fins, or Pectorials (Zoˆl.), fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under Fin. -- Pectorial rail. (Zoˆl.) See Land rail (b) under Land. -- Pectorial sandpiper (Zoˆl.), the jacksnipe (b).

Pec"to*ral (?), n. [L. pectorale a breastplate, neut. of pectorials.] 1. A covering or protecting for the breast.

2. (Eccl.) (a) A breastplate, esp. that worn by the Jewish high person. (b) A clasp or a cross worn on the breast.

3. A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs.

Pec"to*ral*ly (?), adv. As connected with the breast.

Pec`to*ri*lo"qui*al (?), a. [Cf. F. pectoriloque.] Pertaining to, or of the nature of, pectoriloquy.

Pec`to*ril"o*quism (?), n. Pectoriloquy.

Pec`to*ril"o*quous (?), a. Pectoriloquial.

Pec`to*ril"o*quy (?), n. [L. pectus, -oris, the breast + loqui to speak: cf. F. pectoriloquie.] (Med.) The distinct articulation of the sounds of a patient's voice, heard on applying the ear to the chest in auscultation. It usually indicates some morbid change in the lungs or pleural cavity.

Pec"tose` (?), n. [Pectic + cellulose.] (Chem.) An amorphous carbohydrate found in the vegetable kingdom, esp. in unripe fruits. It is associated with cellulose, and is converted into substances of the pectin group.

Pec*to"sic (?), a. (Chem.)Of, pertaining to, resembling, or derived from, pectose; specifically, designating an acid supposed to constitute largely ordinary pectin or vegetable jelly.

||Pec*tos"tra*ca (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; fixed + &?; shell of a ||testacean.] (Zoˆl.) A degenerate order of Crustacea, including the ||Rhizocephala and Cirripedia.

Pec"tous (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or consisting of, pectose.

||Pec"tus (?), n.; pl. Pectora (#). [L., the breast.] (Zoˆl.) The ||breast of a bird.

Pec"ul (?), n. See Picul.

Pec"u*late (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peculated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Peculating.] [L. peculatus, p. p. of peculari to peculate, akin to peculium private property. See Peculiar.] To appropriate to one's own use the property of the public; to steal public moneys intrusted to one's care; to embezzle.

An oppressive, . . . rapacious, and peculating despotism.

Burke.

Pec`u*la"tion (?), n. The act or practice of peculating, or of defrauding the public by appropriating to one's own use the money or goods intrusted to one's care for management or disbursement; embezzlement.

Every British subject . . . active in the discovery of peculations
has been ruined.

Burke.

Pec"u*la`tor (?), n. [L.] One who peculates. "Peculators of the public gold." Cowper.

Pe*cul"iar (?), a. [L. peculiaris, fr. peculium private property, akin to pecunia money: cf. OF. peculier. See Pecuniary.] 1. One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not possessed by others; of private, personal, or characteristic possession and use; not owned in common or in participation.

And purify unto himself a peculiar people.

Titus ii. 14.

Hymns . . . that Christianity hath peculiar unto itself.

Hooker.

2. Particular; individual; special; appropriate.

While each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat.

Milton.

My fate is Juno's most peculiar care.

Dryden.

3. Unusual; singular; rare; strange; as, the sky had a peculiarappearance.

Syn. -- Peculiar, Special, Especial. Peculiar is from the Roman peculium, which was a thing emphatically and distinctively one's own, and hence was dear. The former sense always belongs to peculiar (as, a peculiar style, peculiar manners, etc.), and usually so much of the latter as to involve feelings of interest; as, peculiar care, watchfulness, satisfaction, etc. Nothing of this kind belongs to special and especial. They mark simply the relation of species to genus, and denote that there is something in this case more than ordinary; as, a special act of Congress; especial pains, etc.

Beauty, which, either walking or asleep, Shot forth peculiar
graces.

Milton.

For naught so vile that on the earth doth live, But to the earth
some special good doth give.

Shak.

Pe*cul"iar, n. 1. That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic.

Revenge is . . . the peculiar of Heaven.

South.

2. (Eng. Canon Law) A particular parish or church which is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary.

Court of Peculiars (Eng. Law), a branch of the Court of Arches having cognizance of the affairs of peculiars. Blackstone. -- Dean of peculiars. See under Dean, 1.

Pe*cul`iar"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Peculiarities (&?;). 1. The quality or state of being peculiar; individuality; singularity. Swift.

2. That which is peculiar; a special and distinctive characteristic or habit; particularity.

The smallest peculiarity of temper on manner.

Macaulay.

3. Exclusive possession or right. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Pe*cul"iar*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pecularized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pecularizing (?).] To make peculiar; to set appart or assign, as an exclusive possession. [R.] Dr. John Smith.

Pe*cul"iar*ly, adv. In a peculiar manner; particulary; in a rare and striking degree; unusually.

Pe*cul"iar*ness, n. The quality or state of being peculiar; peculiarity. Mede.

||Pe*cu"li*um (?), n. [L. See Peculiar.] 1. (Rom. Law) The saving of a ||son or a slave with the father's or master's consent; a little ||property or stock of one's own; any exclusive personal or separate ||property. Burrill.

2. A special fund for private and personal uses.

A slight peculium only subtracted to supply his snuff box and
tobacco pouch.

Sir W. Scott.

Pe*cu"ni*al (?), a. Pecuniary. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pe*cun"ia*ri*ly (?), adv. In a pecuniary manner; as regards money.

Pe*cun"ia*ry (?), a. [L. pecuniarius, fr. pecunia money, orig., property in cattle, fr. pecus cattle: cf. F. pÈcuniaire. See Fee, and cf. Peculiar.] 1. Relating to money; monetary; as, a pecuniary penalty; a pecuniary reward. Burke.

Pe*cu"ni*ous (?), a. [L. pecuniosus, fr. pecunia: cf. F. pÈcunieux.] Abounding in money; wealthy; rich. [Obs.] Sherwood.

Ped (?), n. [OE. See Peddler.] A basket; a hammer; a pannier. [Obs.] Halliwell.

Ped"age (?), n. [LL. pedagium, for pedaticum. See Paage.] A toll or tax paid by passengers, entitling them to safe-conduct and protection. [Obs.] Spelman.

Ped"a*gog (?), n. Pedagogue.

Ped`a*gog"ic (?), n. [From Pedagogic, a.; cf. G. pedagogik.] See Pedagogics.

{ Ped`a*gog"ic (?), Ped`a*gog"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. pÈdagogique. See Pedagogue.] Of or pertaining to a pedagogue; suited to, or characteristic of, a pedagogue.

Ped`a*gog"ics (?), n. The science or art of teaching; the principles and rules of teaching; pedagogy.

Ped"a*gog*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. pÈdagogisme.] The system, occupation, character, or manner of pedagogues. Milton.

Avocation of pedantry and pedagogism.

De Foe.

Ped"a*gogue (?), n. [F. pÈdagogue, L. paedagogus, Gr. &?;; pai^s, paido`s, a boy + &?; to lead, guide; cf. &?; leading. See Page a servant, Agent.] 1. (Gr. Antiq.) A slave who led his master's children to school, and had the charge of them generally.

2. A teacher of children; one whose occupation is to teach the young; a schoolmaster.

3. One who by teaching has become formal, positive, or pedantic in his ways; one who has the manner of a schoolmaster; a pedant. Goldsmith.

Ped"a*gogue, v. t. [Cf. L. paedagogare to instruct.] To play the pedagogue toward. [Obs.] Prior.

Ped"a*go`gy (?), n. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. pÈdagogie.] Pedagogics; pedagogism. South.

Pe"dal (?), a. [L. pedalis, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and cf. Pew.] 1. Of or pertaining to the foot, or to feet, literally or figuratively; specifically (Zoˆl.), pertaining to the foot of a mollusk; as, the pedal ganglion.

2. (&?;) Of or pertaining to a pedal; having pedals.

Pedal curve or surface (Geom.), the curve or surface which is the locus of the feet of perpendiculars let fall from a fixed point upon the straight lines tangent to a given curve, or upon the planes tangent to a given surface. -- Pedal note (Mus.), the note which is held or sustained through an organ point. See Organ point, under Organ. -- Pedal organ (Mus.), an organ which has pedals or a range of keys moved by the feet; that portion of a full organ which is played with the feet.

Pe"dal (?), n. [Cf. F. pÈdale, It. pedale. See Pedal, a.] 1. (Mech.) A lever or key acted on by the foot, as in the pianoforte to raise the dampers, or in the organ to open and close certain pipes; a treadle, as in a lathe or a bicycle.

2. (Geom.) A pedal curve or surface.

Pe*da"li*an (?), a. Relating to the foot, or to a metrical foot; pedal. [R.] Maunder.

Pe*dal"i*ty (?), n. The act of measuring by paces. [R.] Ash.

Pe*da"ne*ous (?), a. [L. pedaneus of the size of a foot.] Going on foot; pedestrian. [R.]

Ped"ant (?), n. [F. pÈdant, It. pedante, fr. Gr. &?; to instruct, from pai^s boy. See Pedagogue.] 1. A schoolmaster; a pedagogue. [Obs.] Dryden.

A pedant that keeps a school i'th' church.

Shak.

2. One who puts on an air of learning; one who makes a vain display of learning; a pretender to superior knowledge. Addison.

A scholar, yet surely no pedant, was he.

Goldsmith.

{ Pe*dan"tic (?), Pe*dan"tic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to a pedant; characteristic of, or resembling, a pedant; ostentatious of learning; as, a pedantic writer; a pedantic description; a pedantical affectation. "Figures pedantical." Shak.

Pe*dan"tic*al*ly, adv. In a pedantic manner.

Pe*dan"tic*ly (?), adv. Pedantically. [R.]

Ped"ant*ism (?), n. The office, disposition, or act of a pedant; pedantry. [Obs.]

Ped"ant*ize (?), v. i. [Cf. F. pÈdantiser.] To play the pedant; to use pedantic expressions. [R.]

Ped`an*toc"ra*cy (?), n. [Pedant + democracy.] The sway of pedants. [R.] J. S. Mill.

Ped"ant*ry (?), n. [Cf. F. pÈdanterie.] The act, character, or manners of a pedant; vain ostentation of learning. "This pedantry of quotation." Cowley.

'T is a practice that savors much of pedantry.

Sir T. Browne.

Ped"ant*y (?), n. An assembly or clique of pedants. [Obs.] Milton.

Pe*da"ri*an (?), n. [L. pedarius, fr. pedarius belonging to the foot, fr. pes, pedis, foot.] (Rom. Antiq.) One of a class eligible to the office of senator, but not yet chosen, who could sit and speak in the senate, but could not vote; -- so called because he might indicate his opinion by walking over to the side of the party he favored when a vote was taken.

Ped"a*ry (?), n.; pl. Pedaries (#). [L. pedarius of the foot.] A sandal. [Obs.] Latimer.

||Pe*da"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Pedate.] (Zoˆl.) An order of ||holothurians, including those that have ambulacral suckers, or feet, ||and an internal gill.

<! p. 1057 !>

Ped"ate (?), a. [L. pedatus, p. p. of pedare to furnish with feet, fr. pes, pedis, a foot.] (Bot.) Palmate, with the lateral lobes cleft into two or more segments; -- said of a leaf. -- Ped"ate*ly, adv.

Pe*dat"i*fid (?), a. [Pedate + root of L. findere to split.] [Colloq.] Cleft in a pedate manner, but having the lobes distinctly connected at the base; -- said of a leaf.

Ped"dle (?), v. i. [From Peddler.] 1. To travel about with wares for sale; to go from place to place, or from house to house, for the purpose of retailing goods; as, to peddle without a license.

2. To do a small business; to be busy about trifles; to piddle.

Ped"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peddled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Peddling (?).] To sell from place to place; to retail by carrying around from customer to customer; to hawk; hence, to retail in very small quantities; as, to peddle vegetables or tinware.

Ped"dler (?), n. [OE. pedlere, pedlare, also peddare, peoddare, fr. OE. ped a basket, of unknown origin.] One who peddles; a traveling trader; one who travels about, retailing small wares; a hawker. [Written also pedlar and pedler.] "Some vagabond huckster or peddler." Hakluyt.

Ped"dler*y (?), n. [Written also pedlary and pedlery.] 1. The trade, or the goods, of a peddler; hawking; small retail business, like that of a peddler.

2. Trifling; trickery. [Obs.] "Look . . . into these their deceitful peddleries." Milton.

Ped"dling, a. 1. Hawking; acting as a peddler.

2. Petty; insignificant. "The miserable remains of a peddling commerce." Burke.

Ped"er*ast (?), n. [Gr. paiderasth`s; pai^s, paido`s, a boy + 'era^n to love: cf. F. pÈdÈraste.] One guilty of pederasty; a sodomite.

Ped`er*as"tic (?), a. [Gr. paiderastiko`s.] Of or pertaining to pederasty.

Ped"er*as`ty (?), n. [Gr. paiderasti`a: cf. F. pÈdÈrastie.] The crime against nature; sodomy.

Ped`e*re"ro (?), n. [Sp. pedrero, fr. OSp. pedra, Sp. piedra, a stone, L. petra, fr. Gr. &?;. So named because it was at first charged with stones.] (Mil.) A term formerly applied to a short piece of chambered ordnance. [Written also paterero and peterero.]

||Pe*de"sis (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; a leaping.] Same as Brownian ||movement, under Brownian.

Ped"es*tal (?), n. [Sp. pedestal; cf. F. piÈdestal, It. piedestallo; fr. L. es, pedis, foot + OHG. stal standing place, station, place, akin to E. stall. See Foot, and Stall, and Footstall.] 1. (Arch.) The base or foot of a column, statue, vase, lamp, or the like; the part on which an upright work stands. It consists of three parts, the base, the die or dado, and the cornice or surbase molding. See Illust. of Column.

Build him a pedestal, and say, "Stand there!"

Cowper.

2. (a) (Railroad Cars) A casting secured to the frame of a truck and forming a jaw for holding a journal box. (b) (Mach.) A pillow block; a low housing. (c) (Bridge Building) An iron socket, or support, for the foot of a brace at the end of a truss where it rests on a pier.

Pedestal coil (steam Heating), a group of connected straight pipes arranged side by side and one above another, -- used in a radiator.

Ped"es*taled (?), a. Placed on, or supported by, a pedestal; figuratively, exalted. Hawthorne.

Pedestaled haply in a palace court.

Keats.

Pe*des"tri*al (?), a. [L. pedester, -esteris, fr. pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. pÈdestere. See Pedal.] Of or pertaining to the feet; employing the foot or feet.

Pe*des"tri*al*ly, adv. In a pedestrial manner.

Pe*des"tri*an (?), a. Going on foot; performed on foot; as, a pedestrian journey.

Pe*des"tri*an, n. A walker; one who journeys on foot; a foot traveler; specif., a professional walker or runner.

Pe*des"tri*an*ism (?), n. The act, art, or practice of a pedestrian; walking or running; traveling or racing on foot.

Pe*des"tri*an*ize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pedestrianized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pedestrianizing.] To practice walking; to travel on foot.

Pe*des"tri*ous (?), a. Going on foot; not winged. [Obs.] "Pedestrious animals." Sir T. Browne.

Ped`e*ten"tous (?), a. [L. pes, pedis, foot + tendere to stretch out: cf. L. tentim by degrees.] Proceeding step by step; advancing cautiously. [R.]

That pedetentous pace and pedetentous mind in which it behooves the
wise and virtuous improver to walk.

Sydney Smith.

{ Ped"i- (?), Ped"o- (?) }. [See Foot.] Combining forms from L. pes, pedis, foot, as pedipalp, pedireme, pedometer.

Pe"di*al (?), a. Pertaining to the foot, or to any organ called a foot; pedal. Dana.

Ped"i*cel (?), n. [F. pÈdicelle. See Pedicle.] 1. (Bot.) (a) A stalk which supports one flower or fruit, whether solitary or one of many ultimate divisions of a common peduncle. See Peduncle, and Illust. of Flower. (b) A slender support of any special organ, as that of a capsule in mosses, an air vesicle in algÊ, or a sporangium in ferns.

2. (Zoˆl.) A slender stem by which certain of the lower animals or their eggs are attached. See Illust. of Aphis lion.

3. (Anat.) (a) The ventral part of each side of the neural arch connecting with the centrum of a vertebra. (b) An outgrowth of the frontal bones, which supports the antlers or horns in deer and allied animals.

Ped"i*celed (?), a. Pedicellate.

||Ped`i*cel*la"ri*a (?), n.; pl. PedicellariÊ (#). [NL. See Pedicel.] ||(Zoˆl.) A peculiar forcepslike organ which occurs in large numbers ||upon starfishes and echini. Those of starfishes have two movable ||jaws, or blades, and are usually nearly, or quite, sessile; those of ||echini usually have three jaws and a pedicel. See Illustration in ||Appendix.

Ped"i*cel`late (?), a. Having a pedicel; supported by a pedicel.

||Ped`i*cel*li"na (?), n. [NL. See Pedicel.] (Zoˆl.) A genus of ||Bryozoa, of the order Entoprocta, having a bell-shaped body supported ||on a slender pedicel. See Illust. under Entoprocta.

Ped"i*cle (?), n. [L. pediculus a little foot, dim. of pes foot: cf. F. pÈdicule. See edal, and cf. Pedicel.] Same as Pedicel.

Pe*dic"u*lar (?), a. [L. pedicularis, fr. pediculus a louse: cf. F. pÈdiculaire.] Of or pertaining to lice; having the lousy distemper (phthiriasis); lousy. Southey.

Pe*dic"u*late (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the Pediculati.

||Pe*dic`u*la"ti (?), n. pl. [NL. See Pedicle.] (Zoˆl.) An order of ||fishes including the anglers. See Illust. of Angler and Batfish.

Pe*dic`u*la"tion (?), n. (Med.) Phthiriasis.

Ped"i*cule (?), n. [See Pedicle.] A pedicel.

||Pe*dic`u*li"na (?), n. pl. [NL. See Pediculus.] (Zoˆl.) A division of ||parasitic hemipterous insects, including the true lice. See Illust. ||in Appendix.

Pe*dic"u*lous (?), a. [L. pediculosus.] Pedicular.

||Pe*dic"u*lus (?), n.; pl. Pediculi (#). [L., a louse.] (Zoˆl.) A ||genus of wingless parasitic Hemiptera, including the common lice of ||man. See Louse.

Ped"i*form (?), a. [Pedi- + - form.] Shaped like a foot.

Pe*dig"er*ous (?), a. [Pedi- + -gerous.] (Zoˆl.) Bearing or having feet or legs.

Ped"i*gree (?), n. [Of unknown origin; possibly fr. F. par degrÈs by degrees, -- for a pedigree is properly a genealogical table which records the relationship of families by degrees; or, perh., fr. F. pied de grue crane's foot, from the shape of the heraldic genealogical trees.] 1. A line of ancestors; descent; lineage; genealogy; a register or record of a line of ancestors.

Alterations of surnames . . . have obscured the truth of our
pedigrees.

Camden.

His vanity labored to contrive us a pedigree.

Milton.

I am no herald to inquire of men's pedigrees.

Sir P. Sidney.

The Jews preserved the pedigrees of their tribes.

Atterbury.

2. (Stock Breeding) A record of the lineage or strain of an animal, as of a horse.

Ped"i*lu`vy (?), n. [Pedi- + L. luere to wash: cf. It. & Sp. pediluvio, F. pÈdiluve.] The bathing of the feet, a bath for the feet. [Obs.]

||Pe*dim"a*na (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. pes, pedis, foot + manus hand.] ||(Zoˆl.) A division of marsupials, including the opossums.

Ped"i*mane (?), n. [Cf. F. pÈdimane.] (Zoˆl.) A pedimanous marsupial; an opossum.

Pe*dim"a*nous (?), a. [See Pedimana.] (Zoˆl.) Having feet resembling hands, or with the first toe opposable, as the opossums and monkeys.

Ped"i*ment (?), n. [L. pes, pedis, a foot. See Foot.] (Arch.) Originally, in classical architecture, the triangular space forming the gable of a simple roof; hence, a similar form used as a decoration over porticoes, doors, windows, etc.; also, a rounded or broken frontal having a similar position and use. See Temple.

Ped`i*men"tal (?), a. Of or pertaining to a pediment.

Ped"i*palp (?), n. [Cf. F. pÈdipalpe.] (Zoˆl.) One of the Pedipalpi.

||Ped`i*pal"pi (?), n pl. [NL. See Pedipalpus.] (Zoˆl.) A division of ||Arachnida, including the whip scorpions (Thelyphonus) and allied ||forms. Sometimes used in a wider sense to include also the true ||scorpions.

Ped`i*pal"pous (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to, or resembling, the pedipalps.

Ped`i*pal"pus (?), n.; pl. Pedipalpi (#). [NL. See Pes, and Palpus.] (Zoˆl.) One of the second pair of mouth organs of arachnids. In some they are leglike, but in others, as the scorpion, they terminate in a claw.

Ped"i*reme (?), n. [Pedi- + L. remus oar.] (Zoˆl.) A crustacean, some of whose feet serve as oars.

{ Ped"lar, Ped"ler } (?), n. See Peddler.

Pe`do*bap"tism (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, a child + E. baptism.] The baptism of infants or of small children. [Written also pÊdobaptism.]

Pe`do*bap"tist (?), n. One who advocates or practices infant baptism. [Written also pÊdobaptist.]

Ped"o*man`cy (?), n. [Pedi- + -mancy.] Divination by examining the soles of the feet.

Pe*dom"e*ter (?), n. [Pedi-, pedo- + -meter: cf. F. pÈdomËtre.] (Mech.) An instrument for including the number of steps in walking, and so ascertaining the distance passed over. It is usually in the form of a watch; an oscillating weight by the motion of the body causes the index to advance a certain distance at each step.

{ Ped`o*met"ric (?), Ped`o*met"ric*al (?), } a. Pertaining to, or measured by, a pedometer.

Ped`o*mo"tive (?), a. [Pedi-, pedo- + -motive.] Moved or worked by the action of the foot or feet on a pedal or treadle.

Pe*dot"ro*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?;, &?;, a child + &?; to nourish: cf. F. pÈdotrophie.] The art of nourishing children properly.

||Pe`dre*gal" (?), n. [Sp., a stony place, fr. piedra stone.] A lava ||field. [Mexico & Western U.S.]

Pe*dun"cle (?), n. [Formed fr. (assumed) L. pedunculus, dim. of pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. pÈdoncule.] 1. (Bot.) The stem or stalk that supports the flower or fruit of a plant, or a cluster of flowers or fruits.

The ultimate divisions or branches of a peduncle are called pedicels. In the case of a solitary flower, the stalk would be called a peduncle if the flower is large, and a pedicel if it is small or delicate.

2. (Zoˆl.) A sort of stem by which certain shells and barnacles are attached to other objects. See Illust. of Barnacle.

3. (Anat.) A band of nervous or fibrous matter connecting different parts of the brain; as, the peduncles of the cerebellum; the peduncles of the pineal gland.

Pe*dun"cled (?), a. Having a peduncle; supported on a peduncle; pedunculate.

Pe*dun"cu*lar (?), a. [Cf. F. pÈdonculaire.] Of or pertaining to a peduncle; growing from a peduncle; as, a peduncular tendril.

||Pe*dun`cu*la"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Peduncle.] (Zoˆl.) A division of ||Cirripedia, including the stalked or goose barnacles.

{ Pe*dun"cu*late (?), Pe*dun"cu*la`ted (?), } a. (Biol.) Having a peduncle; growing on a peduncle; as, a pedunculate flower; a pedunculate eye, as in a lobster.

Pee (?), n. See 1st Pea.

Pee, n. (Naut.) Bill of an anchor. See Peak, 3 (c).

Peece (?), n. & v. [Obs.] See Piece.

||Pee"chi (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The dauw.

Peek (?), v. i. [OE. piken: cf. F. piquer to pierce, prick, E. pique. Cf. Peak.] To look slyly, or with the eyes half closed, or through a crevice; to peep. [Colloq.]

Peek"a*boo (?), n. A child's game; bopeep.

Peel (?), n. [OE. pel. Cf. Pile a heap.] A small tower, fort, or castle; a keep. [Scot.]

Peel, n. [F. pelle, L. pala.] A spadelike implement, variously used, as for removing loaves of bread from a baker's oven; also, a T-shaped implement used by printers and bookbinders for hanging wet sheets of paper on lines or poles to dry. Also, the blade of an oar.

Peel, v. t. [Confused with peel to strip, but fr. F. piller to pillage. See Pill to rob, Pillage.] To plunder; to pillage; to rob. [Obs.]

But govern ill the nations under yoke, Peeling their provinces.

Milton.

Peel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peeled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Peeling.] [F. peler to pull out the hair, to strip, to peel, fr. L. pilare to deprive of hair, fr. pilus a hair; or perh. partly fr. F. peler to peel off the skin, perh. fr. L. pellis skin (cf. Fell skin). Cf. Peruke.] 1. To strip off the skin, bark, or rind of; to strip by drawing or tearing off the skin, bark, husks, etc.; to flay; to decorticate; as, to peel an orange.

The skillful shepherd peeled me certain wands.

Shak.

2. To strip or tear off; to remove by stripping, as the skin of an animal, the bark of a tree, etc.

Peel, v. i. To lose the skin, bark, or rind; to come off, as the skin, bark, or rind does; -- often used with an adverb; as, the bark peels easily or readily.

Peel, n. The skin or rind; as, the peel of an orange.

Pee"le (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A graceful and swift South African antelope (Pelea capreola). The hair is woolly, and ash-gray on the back and sides. The horns are black, long, slender, straight, nearly smooth, and very sharp. Called also rheeboc, and rehboc.

Peel"er (?), n. One who peels or strips.

Peel"er, n. [See Peel to plunder.] A pillager.

Peel"er, n. A nickname for a policeman; -- so called from Sir Robert Peel. [British Slang] See Bobby.

Peel"house` (?), n. See 1st Peel. Sir W. Scott.

Peen (?), n. [Cf. G. pinne pane of a hammer.] (a) A round-edged, or hemispherical, end to the head of a hammer or sledge, used to stretch or bend metal by indentation. (b) The sharp-edged end of the head of a mason's hammer. [Spelt also pane, pein, and piend.]

Peen, v. t. To draw, bend, or straighten, as metal, by blows with the peen of a hammer or sledge.

Peenge (?), v. i. To complain. [Scot.]

Peep (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peeped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Peeping.] [Of imitative origin; cf. OE. pipen, F. piper, pÈpier, L. pipire, pipare, pipiare, D. & G. piepen. Senses 2 and 3 perhaps come from a transfer of sense from the sound which chickens make upon the first breaking of the shell to the act accompanying it; or perhaps from the influence of peek, or peak. Cf. Pipe.] 1. To cry, as a chicken hatching or newly hatched; to chirp; to cheep.

There was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

Is. x. 14.

2. To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.

When flowers first peeped, and trees did blossoms bear.

Dryden.

<! p. 1058 !>

3. To look cautiously or slyly; to peer, as through a crevice; to pry.

eep through the blanket of the dark.

Shak.

From her cabined loophole peep.

Milton.

Peep sight, an adjustable piece, pierced with a small hole to peep through in aiming, attached to a rifle or other firearm near the breech.

Peep (?), n. 1. The cry of a young chicken; a chirp.

2. First outlook or appearance.

Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn.

Gray.

3. A sly look; a look as through a crevice, or from a place of concealment.

To take t' other peep at the stars.

Swift.

4. (Zoˆl.) (a) Any small sandpiper, as the least sandpiper (Trigna minutilla). (b) The European meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis).

Peep show, a small show, or object exhibited, which is viewed through an orifice or a magnifying glass. -- Peep-o'-day boys, the Irish insurgents of 1784; -- so called from their visiting the house of the loyal Irish at day break in search of arms. [Cant]

Peep"er (?), n. 1. A chicken just breaking the shell; a young bird.

2. One who peeps; a prying person; a spy.

Who's there? peepers, . . . eavesdroppers?

J. Webster.

3. The eye; as, to close the peepers. [Colloq.]

Peep"hole` (?), n. A hole, or crevice, through which one may peep without being discovered.

Peep"ing hole`. See Peephole.

Pee"pul tree` (?). [Hind. ppal, Skr. pippala.] (Bot.) A sacred tree (Ficus religiosa) of the Buddhists, a kind of fig tree which attains great size and venerable age. See Bo tree. [Written also pippul tree, and pipal tree.]

Peer (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Peering.] [OF. parir, pareir equiv. to F. paraÓtre to appear, L. parere. Cf. Appear.] 1. To come in sight; to appear. [Poetic]

So honor peereth in the meanest habit.

Shak.

See how his gorget peers above his gown!

B. Jonson.

2. [Perh. a different word; cf. OE. piren, LG. piren. Cf. Pry to peep.] To look narrowly or curiously or intently; to peep; as, the peering day. Milton.

Peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads.

Shak.

As if through a dungeon grate he peered.

Coleridge.

Peer, n. [OE. per, OF. per, F. pair, fr. L. par equal. Cf. Apparel, Pair, Par, n., Umpire.] 1. One of the same rank, quality, endowments, character, etc.; an equal; a match; a mate.

In song he never had his peer.

Dryden.

Shall they consort only with their peers?

I. Taylor.

2. A comrade; a companion; a fellow; an associate.

He all his peers in beauty did surpass.

Spenser.

3. A nobleman; a member of one of the five degrees of the British nobility, namely, duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron; as, a peer of the realm.

A noble peer of mickle trust and power.

Milton.

House of Peers, The Peers, the British House of Lords. See Parliament. -- Spiritual peers, the bishops and archibishops, or lords spiritual, who sit in the House of Lords.

Peer v. t. To make equal in rank. [R.] Heylin.

Peer v. t. To be, or to assume to be, equal. [R.]

Peer"age (?), n. [See Peer an equal, and cf. Parage.] 1. The rank or dignity of a peer. Blackstone.

2. The body of peers; the nobility, collectively.

When Charlemain with all his peerage fell.

Milton.

Peer"dom (?), n. Peerage; also, a lordship. [Obs.]

Peer"ess, n. The wife of a peer; a woman ennobled in her own right, or by right of marriage.

{ Peer"ie, Peer"y } (?), a. [See 1st Peer, 2.] Inquisitive; suspicious; sharp. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] "Two peery gray eyes." Sir W. Scott.

Peer"less (?), a. Having no peer or equal; matchless; superlative. "Her peerless feature." Shak.

Unvailed her peerless light.

Milton.

--Peer"less*ly, adv. -- Peer"less*ness, n.

Peert (?), a. Same as Peart.

Peer"weet (?), n. Same as Pewit (a & b).

Pee"vish (?), a. [OE. pevische; of uncertain origin, perh. from a word imitative of the noise made by fretful children + -ish.] 1. Habitually fretful; easily vexed or fretted; hard to please; apt to complain; querulous; petulant. "Her peevish babe." Wordsworth.

She is peevish, sullen, froward.

Shak.

2. Expressing fretfulness and discontent, or unjustifiable dissatisfaction; as, a peevish answer.

3. Silly; childish; trifling. [Obs.]

To send such peevish tokens to a king.

Shak.

Syn. -- Querulous; petulant; cross; ill-tempered; testy; captious; discontented. See Fretful.

Pee"vish*ly, adv. In a peevish manner. Shak.

Pee"vish*ness, n. The quality of being peevish; disposition to murmur; sourness of temper.

Syn. -- See Petulance.

{ Pee"vit (?), Pee"wit (?), } n. (Zoˆl.) See Pewit.

Peg (?), n. [OE. pegge; cf. Sw. pigg, Dan. pig a point, prickle, and E. peak.] 1. A small, pointed piece of wood, used in fastening boards together, in attaching the soles of boots or shoes, etc.; as, a shoe peg.

2. A wooden pin, or nail, on which to hang things, as coats, etc. Hence, colloquially and figuratively: A support; a reason; a pretext; as, a peg to hang a claim upon.

3. One of the pins of a musical instrument, on which the strings are strained. Shak.

4. One of the pins used for marking points on a cribbage board.

5. A step; a degree; esp. in the slang phrase "To take one down peg."

To screw papal authority to the highest peg.

Barrow.

And took your grandess down a peg.

Hudibras.

Peg ladder, a ladder with but one standard, into which cross pieces are inserted. -- Peg tankard, an ancient tankard marked with pegs, so as divide the liquor into equal portions. "Drink down to your peg." Longfellow. -- Peg tooth. See Fleam tooth under Fleam. -- Peg top, a boy's top which is spun by throwing it. -- Screw peg, a small screw without a head, for fastening soles.

Peg (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pegged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pegging (?).] 1. To put pegs into; to fasten the parts of with pegs; as, to peg shoes; to confine with pegs; to restrict or limit closely.

I will rend an oak And peg thee in his knotty entrails.

Shak.

2. (Cribbage) To score with a peg, as points in the game; as, she pegged twelwe points. [Colloq.]

Peg, v. i. To work diligently, as one who pegs shoes; -- usually with on, at, or away; as, to peg away at a task.

||Pe`ga*dor" (?), n. [Sp., a sticker.] (Zoˆl.) A species of remora ||(Echeneis naucrates). See Remora.

Pe*ga"se*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Pegasus, or, figuratively, to poetry.

Peg"a*soid (?), a. [Pegasus + -oid.] (Zoˆl.) Like or pertaining to Pegasus.

Peg"a*sus (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;.] 1. (Gr. Myth.) A winged horse fabled to have sprung from the body of Medusa when she was slain. He is noted for causing, with a blow of his hoof, Hippocrene, the inspiring fountain of the Muses, to spring from Mount Helicon. On this account he is, in modern times, associated with the Muses, and with ideas of poetic inspiration.

Each spurs his jaded Pegasus apace.

Byron.

2. (Astron.) A northen constellation near the vernal equinoctial point. Its three brightest stars, with the brightest star of Andromeda, form the square of Pegasus.

3. (Zoˆl.) A genus of small fishes, having large pectoral fins, and the body covered with hard, bony plates. Several species are known from the East Indies and China.

Peg"ger (?), n. One who fastens with pegs.

Peg"ging (?), n. The act or process of fastening with pegs.

Pegm (?), n. [L. pegma a movable stage, Gr. &?;, orig., a framework.] A sort of moving machine employed in the old pageants. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Peg"ma*tite (?), n. [From Gr. &?; something fastened together, in allusion to the quartz and feldspar in graphic granite: cf. F. pegmatite. See Pegm.] (Min.) (a) Graphic granite. See under Granite. (b) More generally, a coarse granite occurring as vein material in other rocks.

Peg`ma*tit"ic (?), a. (Min.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, pegmatite; as, the pegmatic structure of certain rocks resembling graphic granite.

Peg"ma*toid (?), a. [Pegmatite + -oid.] (Min.) Resembling pegmatite; pegmatic.

Peg"o*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. phgh` fountain + -mancy.] Divination by fountains. [R.]

Peg"roots` (pg"rts`), n. Same as Setterwort.

Peh"le*vi` (?), n. [Parsee Pahlavi.] An ancient Persian dialect in which words were partly represented by their Semitic equivalents. It was in use from the 3d century (and perhaps earlier) to the middle of the 7th century, and later in religious writings. [Written also Pahlavi.]

Pein (?), n. See Peen.

Pei*ram"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; a trail + -meter.] A dynamometer for measuring the force required to draw wheel carriages on roads of different constructions. G. Francis.

Pei*ras"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to try, fr. &?; a trail.] Fitted for trail or test; experimental; tentative; treating of attempts.

Peise (?), n. [See Poise.] A weight; a poise. [Obs.] "To weigh pence with a peise." Piers Plowman.

Peise, v. t. To poise or weight. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Lest leaden slumber peise me down.

Shak.

Pei"trel (?), n. (Anc. Armor) See Peytrel.

Pe*jor"a*tive (?), a. [F. pÈjoratif, fr. L. pejor, used as compar. of malus evil.] Implying or imputing evil; depreciatory; disparaging; unfavorable.

Pek"an (?), n. [F. pekan.] (Zoˆl.) See Fisher, 2.

Pek"oe (?), n. [Chin. pih-hoau: cf. F. pekoÎ] A kind of black tea. [Written also pecco.]

Pe"la (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Wax insect, under Wax.

Pel"age (?), n. [F. pelage, fr. L. pilus hair.] (Zoˆl.) The covering, or coat, of a mammal, whether of wool, fur, or hair.

Pe*la"gi*an (?), a. [L. pelagius, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; the sea: cf. F. pÈlagien.] Of or pertaining to the sea; marine; pelagic; as, pelagian shells.

Pe*la"gi*an, n. [L. Pelagianus: cf. F. pÈlagien.] (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Pelagius, a British monk, born in the later part of the 4th century, who denied the doctrines of hereditary sin, of the connection between sin and death, and of conversion through grace.

Pe*la"gi*an, a. [Cf. F. pÈlagien.] Of or pertaining to Pelagius, or to his doctrines.

Pe*la"gi*an*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. pÈlagianisme.] The doctrines of Pelagius.

Pe*lag"ic (?), a. [L. pelagicus.] Of or pertaining to the ocean; -- applied especially to animals that live at the surface of the ocean, away from the coast.

Pel`ar*gon"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid (called also nonoic acid) found in the leaves of the geranium (Pelargonium) and allied plants.

||Pel`ar*go"ni*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a stork.] (Bot.) A large ||genus of plants of the order GeraniaceÊ, differing from Geranium in ||having a spurred calyx and an irregular corolla.

About one hundred and seventy species are known, nearly all of them natives of South Africa, and many having very beautiful blossoms. See the Note under Geranium.

{ Pe*las"gi*an (?), Pe*las"gic (?), } a. [L. Pelasgus, Gr. &?; a Pelasgian.] 1. Of or pertaining to the Pelasgians, an ancient people of Greece, of roving habits.

2. (Zoˆl.) Wandering.

Pel"e*can (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Pelican.

||Pel`e*can`i*for"mes (?), n. pl. [NL. See Pelican, and -form.] (Zoˆl.) ||Those birds that are related to the pelican; the Totipalmi.

Pel"e*coid (?), n. [Gr. &?; a hatchet + -oid.] (Geom.) A figure, somewhat hatched-shaped, bounded by a semicircle and two inverted quadrants, and equal in area to the square ABCD inclosed by the chords of the four quadrants. [Written also pelicoid.] Math. Dict.

||Pel`e*cyp"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a hatchet + -poda.] ||(Zoˆl.) Same as Lamellibranchia.

Pel"e*grine (?), a. See Peregrine. [Obs.]

Pel"er*ine (?), n. [F. pËlerine a tippet, fr. pËlerin a pilgrim, fr. L. peregrinus foreign, alien. See Pilgrim.] A woman's cape; especially, a fur cape that is longer in front than behind.

Pelf (?), n. [OE. pelfir booty, OF. pelfre, akin to pelfrer to plunder, and perh. to E. pillage. Cf. Pilfer.] Money; riches; lucre; gain; -- generally conveying the idea of something ill-gotten or worthless. It has no plural. "Mucky pelf." Spenser. "Paltry pelf." Burke.

Can their pelf prosper, not got by valor or industry?

Fuller.

Pelf"ish, a. Of or pertaining to pelf. Stanyhurst.

{ Pel"fray (?), Pel"fry (?), } n. Pelf; also, figuratively, rubbish; trash. [Obs.] Cranmer.

Pel"i*can (?), n. [F. pÈlican, L. pelicanus, pelecanus, Gr. &?;, &?;, &?;, the woodpecker, and also a water bird of the pelican kind, fr. &?; to hew with an ax, akin to Skr. paraÁu.] [Written also pelecan.] 1. (Zoˆl.) Any large webfooted bird of the genus Pelecanus, of which about a dozen species are known. They have an enormous bill, to the lower edge of which is attached a pouch in which captured fishes are temporarily stored.

The American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and the brown species (P. fuscus) are abundant on the Florida coast in winter, but breed about the lakes in the Rocky Mountains and British America.

2. (Old Chem.) A retort or still having a curved tube or tubes leading back from the head to the body for continuous condensation and redistillation.

The principle is still employed in certain modern forms of distilling apparatus.

Frigate pelican (Zoˆl.), the frigate bird. See under Frigate. -- Pelican fish (Zoˆl.), deep-sea fish (Eurypharynx pelecanoides) of the order Lyomeri, remarkable for the enormous development of the jaws, which support a large gular pouch. -- Pelican flower (Bot.), the very large and curiously shaped blossom of a climbing plant (Aristolochia grandiflora) of the West Indies; also, the plant itself. -- Pelican ibis (Zoˆl.), a large Asiatic wood ibis (Tantalus leucocephalus). The head and throat are destitute of feathers; the plumage is white, with the quills and the tail greenish black. -- Pelican in her piety (in heraldry and symbolical art), a representation of a pelican in the act of wounding her breast in order to nourish her young with her blood; -- a practice fabulously attributed to the bird, on account of which it was adopted as a symbol of the Redeemer, and of charity. -- Pelican's foot (Zoˆl.), a marine gastropod shell of the genus Aporrhais, esp. Aporrhais pes-pelicani of Europe.

Pel"ick (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The American coot (Fulica).

Pel"i*coid (?), n. See Pelecoid.

||Pel`i*co*sau"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a wooden bowl (but ||taken to mean, pelvis) + &?; a lizard.] (Paleon.) A suborder of ||Theromorpha, including terrestrial reptiles from the Permian ||formation.

Pe"li*om (?), n. [See Pelioma.] (Min.) A variety of iolite, of a smoky blue color; pelioma.

||Pe`li*o"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; livid.] 1. (Med.) A ||livid ecchymosis.

2. (Min.) See Peliom.

Pe*lisse" (?), n. [F., fr. L. pelliceus, pellicius, made of skins, fr. pellis a skin. Cf. Pelt skin, Pilch, and see 2d Pell.] An outer garment for men or women, originally of fur, or lined with fur; a lady's outer garment, made of silk or other fabric.

Pell (?), v. t. [Cf. Pelt, v. t.] To pelt; to knock about. [Obs.] Holland.

Pell, n. [OF. pel, F. peau, L. pellis a skin. See Fell a skin.] 1. A skin or hide; a pelt.

2. A roll of parchment; a parchment record.

Clerk of the pells, formerly, an officer of the exchequer who entered accounts on certain parchment rolls, called pell rolls. [Eng.]

Pel"lack (?), n. [Cf. Gael. Peileag.] (Zoˆl.) A porpoise.

Pell"age (pl"j), n. [See 2d Pell.] A customs duty on skins of leather.

<! p. 1059 !>

Pel"la*gra (pl"l*gr), n. (Med.) An erythematous affection of the skin, with severe constitutional and nervous symptoms, endemic in Northern Italy.

Pel"la*grin (?), n. One who is afficted with pellagra. Chambers's Encyc.

Pel"let (?), n. [F. pelote, LL. pelota, pilota, fr. L. pila a ball. Cf. Platoon.] 1. A little ball; as, a pellet of wax &?; paper.

2. A bullet; a ball for firearms. [Obs.] Bacon.

As swift as a pellet out of a gun.

Chaucer.

Pellet molding (Arch.), a narrow band ornamented with smalt, flat disks.

Pel"let, v.&?;. To form into small balls. [Obs.] Shak.

Pel"let*ed, a. Made of, or like, pellets; furnished with pellets. [R.] "This pelleted storm." Shak.

||Pel`li*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. pellis garment + branchia ||a gill.] (Zoˆl.) A division of Nudibranchiata, in which the mantle ||itself serves as a gill.

Pel"li*cle (?), n. [L. pellicu&?;a, dim. of pellis skin: cf. F. pellicule.] 1. A thin skin or film.

2. (Chem.) A thin film formed on the surface of an evaporating solution.

Pel*lic"u*lar (?), a. Of or pertaining to a pellicle. Henslow.

Pel*li"le (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The redshank; -- so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]

Pel"li*to*ry (?), n. [OE. paritorie, OF. paritoire, F. pariÈtaire; (cf. It. & Sp. parietaria), L. parietaria the parietary, or pellitory, the wall plant, fr. parietarus belonging to the walls, fr. paries, parietis a wall. Cf. Parietary.] (Bot.) The common name of the several species of the genus Parietaria, low, harmless weeds of the Nettle family; -- also called wall pellitory, and lichwort.

Parietaria officinalis is common on old walls in Europe; P. pennsylvanica is found in the United States; and six or seven more species are found near the Mediterranean, or in the Orient.

Pel"li*to*ry, n. [Sp. pelitre, fr. L. pyrethrum. See Bertram.] (Bot.) (a) A composite plant (Anacyclus Pyrethrum) of the Mediterranean region, having finely divided leaves and whitish flowers. The root is the officinal pellitory, and is used as an irritant and sialogogue. Called also bertram, and pellitory of Spain. (b) The feverfew (Chrysanthemum Parthenium); -- so called because it resembles the above.

Pell`-mell" (&?;), n. See Pall- mall.

Pell`mell", adv. [F. pÍle- mÍle, prob. fr. pelle a shovel + mÍler to mix, as when different kinds of grain are heaped up and mixed with a shovel. See Pell shovel, Medley.] In utter confusion; with confused violence. "Men, horses, chariots, crowded pellmell." Milton.

Pel*lu"cid (?), a. [L. pellucidus; per (see Per-) + lucidus clear, bright: cf. F. pellucide.] Transparent; clear; limpid; translucent; not opaque. "Pellucid crystal." Dr. H. More. "Pellucid streams." Wordsworth.

{ Pel`lu*cid"i*ty (?), Pel*lu"cid*ness (?), } n. [L. pelluciditas.] The quality or state of being pellucid; transparency; translucency; clearness; as, the pellucidity of the air. Locke.

Pel*lu"cid*ly, adv. In a pellucid manner.

||Pel"ma (?), n.; pl. Pelmata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;.] (Zoˆl.) The ||under surface of the foot.

Pe*lo"pi*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. Pelops, brother of Niobe, Gr. &?;.] (Chem.) A supposed new metal found in columbite, afterwards shown to be identical with columbium, or niobium.

Pel`o*pon*ne"sian (?), a. [L. Peloponnesius, fr. Peloponnesus, Gr. &?;, lit., the Island of Pelops; &?;, &?;, Pelops + &?; an island.] Of or pertaining to the Peloponnesus, or southern peninsula of Greece. -- n. A native or an inhabitant of the Peloponnesus.

||Pe*lo"ri*a (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; monstrous.] (Bot.) Abnormal ||regularity; the state of certain flowers, which, being naturally ||irregular, have become regular through a symmetrical repetition of ||the special irregularity.

Pe*lo"ric (?), a. (Bot.) Abnormally regular or symmetrical. Darwin.

Pel"o*tage (?), n. [F.] Packs or bales of Spanish wool.

Pelt (?), n. [Cf. G. pelz a pelt, fur, fr. OF. pelice, F. pelisse (see Pelisse); or perh. shortened fr. peltry.] 1. The skin of a beast with the hair on; a raw or undressed hide; a skin preserved with the hairy or woolly covering on it. See 4th Fell. Sir T. Browne.

Raw pelts clapped about them for their clothes.

Fuller.

2. The human skin. [Jocose] Dryden.

3. (Falconry) The body of any quarry killed by the hawk.

Pelt rot, a disease affecting the hair or wool of a beast.

Pelt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pelted; p. pr. & vb. n. Pelting.] [OE. pelten, pulten, pilten, to thrust, throw, strike; cf. L. pultare, equiv. to pulsare (v. freq. fr. pellere to drive), and E. pulse a beating.] 1. To strike with something thrown or driven; to assail with pellets or missiles, as, to pelt with stones; pelted with hail.

The children billows seem to pelt the clouds.

Shak.

2. To throw; to use as a missile.

My Phillis me with pelted apples plies.

Dryden.

Pelt, v. i. 1. To throw missiles. Shak.

2. To throw out words. [Obs.]

Another smothered seems to peltand swear.

Shak.

Pelt, n. A blow or stroke from something thrown.

||Pel"ta (?), n.; pl. PeltÊ. [L., a shield, fr. Gr. &?;.] 1. (Antiq.) A ||small shield, especially one of an approximately elliptic form, or ||crescent-shaped.

2. (Bot.) A flat apothecium having no rim.

{ Pel"tate (?), Pel"ta*ted (?), } a. [Cf. F. peltÈ. See Pelta.] Shield-shaped; scutiform; (Bot.) having the stem or support attached to the lower surface, instead of at the base or margin; -- said of a leaf or other organ. -- Pel"tate*ly (#), adv.

Pelt"er (?), n. One who pelts.

Pel"ter (?), n. A pinchpenny; a mean, sordid person; a miser; a skinflint. [Obs.] "Let such pelters prate." Gascoigne.

Pel"ti*form (?), a. [Pelta + - form.] Shieldlike, with the outline nearly circular; peltate. Henslow.

Pel"ting (?), a. Mean; paltry. [Obs.] Shak.

Pelt"ry (?), n. [F. pelleterie peltry, furriery, fr. pelletier a furrier, fr. OF. pel skin, F. peau, L. pelis. See Pelt a skin, Pell, n., Fell a skin.] Pelts or skins, collectively; skins with the fur on them; furs.

Pelt"ry*ware` (?), n. Peltry. [Obs.]

||Pe*lu"do (?), n. [Sp. peludo hairy.] (Zoˆl.) The South American hairy ||armadillo (Dasypus villosus).

Pe*lu"si*ac (?), a. [L. Pelusiacus.] Of or pertaining to Pelusium, an ancient city of Egypt; as, the Pelusiac (or former eastern) outlet of the Nile.

Pel"vic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the pelvis; as, pelvic cellulitis.

Pelvic arch, or Pelvic girdle (Anat.), the two or more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate skeleton to which the hind limbs are articulated. When fully ossified, the arch usually consists of three principal bones on each side, the ilium, ischium, and pubis, which are often closely united in the adult, forming the innominate bone. See Innominate bone, under Innominate.

Pel*vim"e*ter (?), n. [Pelvis + -meter.: cf. F. pelvimËtre.] An instrument for measuring the dimensions of the pelvis. Coxe.

Pel"vis (?), n. [L., a basin, laver; cf. Gr. &?;, &?;, bowl.] 1. (Anat.) The pelvic arch, or the pelvic arch together with the sacrum. See Pelvic arch, under Pelvic, and Sacrum.

2. (Zoˆl.) The calyx of a crinoid.

Pelvis of the kidney (Anat.), the basinlike cavity into which the ureter expands as it joins the kidney.

Pem"mi*can (?), n. [Written also pemican.] 1. Among the North American Indians, meat cut in thin slices, divested of fat, and dried in the sun.

Then on pemican they feasted.

Longfellow.

2. Meat, without the fat, cut in thin slices, dried in the sun, pounded, then mixed with melted fat and sometimes dried fruit, and compressed into cakes or in bags. It contains much nutriment in small compass, and is of great use in long voyages of exploration.

||Pem*phi"gus (?), n. [Nl., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a bubble.] (Med.) A ||somewhat rare skin disease, characterized by the development of blebs ||upon different part of the body. Quain.

Pen (?), n. [OE. penne, OF. penne, pene, F. penne, fr. L. penna.] 1. A feather. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. A wing. [Obs.] Milton.

3. An instrument used for writing with ink, formerly made of a reed, or of the quill of a goose or other bird, but now also of other materials, as of steel, gold, etc. Also, originally, a stylus or other instrument for scratching or graving.

Graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock.

Job xix. 24.

4. Fig.: A writer, or his style; as, he has a sharp pen. "Those learned pens." Fuller.

5. (Zoˆl.) The internal shell of a squid.

6. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoˆl.) A female swan. [Prov. Eng.]

Bow pen. See Bow-pen. -- Dotting pen, a pen for drawing dotted lines. -- Drawing, or Ruling, pen, a pen for ruling lines having a pair of blades between which the ink is contained. -- Fountain pen, Geometric pen. See under Fountain, and Geometric. -- Music pen, a pen having five points for drawing the five lines of the staff. -- Pen and ink, or pen- and-ink, executed or done with a pen and ink; as, a pen and ink sketch. -- Pen feather. A pin feather. [Obs.] -- Pen name. See under Name. -- Sea pen (Zoˆl.), a pennatula. [Usually written sea- pen.]

Pen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Penned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Penning (?).] To write; to compose and commit to paper; to indite; to compose; as, to pen a sonnet. "A prayer elaborately penned." Milton.

Pen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Penned (?) or Pent (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Penning.] [OE. pennen, AS. pennan in on-pennan to unfasten, prob. from the same source as pin, and orig. meaning, to fasten with a peg.See Pin, n. & v.] To shut up, as in a pen or cage; to confine in a small inclosure or narrow space; to coop up, or shut in; to inclose. "Away with her, and pen her up." Shak.

Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve.

Milton.

Pen, n. [From Pen to shut in.] A small inclosure; as, a pen for sheep or for pigs.

My father stole two geese out of a pen.

Shak.