Chapter LI: Bella (63)

PEACOCK Pea"cock`, n. Etym: [OE. pecok. Pea- in this word is from AS. peá, pawa, peacock, fr. L. pavo, prob. of Oriental origin; cf. Gr. taus, tawus, Ar. tawu. See Cock the bird.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The male of any pheasant of the genus Pavo, of which at least two species are known, native of Southern Asia and the East Indies.

Note: The upper tail coverts, which are long and capable of erection, are each marked with a black spot bordered by concentric bands of brilliant blue, green, and golden colors. The common domesticated species is Pavo cristatus. The Javan peacock (P. muticus) is more brilliantly colored than the common species.

2. In common usage, the species in general or collectively; a peafowl. Peacock butterfly (Zoöl.), a handsome European butterfly (Hamadryas Io) having ocelli like those of peacock. -- Peacock fish (Zoöl.), the European blue-striped wrasse (Labrus variegatus); -- so called on account of its brilliant colors. Called also cook wrasse and cook. -- Peacock pheasant (Zoöl.), any one of several species of handsome Asiatic pheasants of the genus Polyplectron. They resemble the peacock in color.

PEACOCK THRONE Pea"cock` Throne.

1. A famous throne formerly of the kings of Delhi, India, but since 1739, when it was carried off by Nadir Shah, held by the shahs of Persia (later Iran); -- so called from its bearing a fully expanded peacock's tail done in gems.

PEAFOWL Pea"fowl`, n. Etym: [See Peacock.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The peacock or peahen; any species of Pavo.

PEAG Peag, n. [Written also peage, peak, peeke.] [Prob. of North Amer. Indian origin.]

Defn: A kind of aboriginal shell money, or wampum, of the Atlantic coast of the United States; -- originally applied only to polished white cylindrical beads.

PEAGE Pe"age, n.

Defn: See Paage.

PEAGRIT Pea"grit`, n. (Min.)

Defn: A coarse pisolitic limestone. See Pisolite.

PEAHEN Pea"hen`, n. Etym: [See Peacock.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The hen or female peafowl.

PEA-JACKET Pea"-jack`et, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. D. pij, pije, a coat of a coarse woolen stuff.]

Defn: A thick loose woolen jacket, or coat, much worn by sailors in cold weather.

PEAK Peak, n. Etym: [OE. pek, AS. peac, perh of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. peac a sharp-pointed thing. Cf. Pike.]

1. A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap. "Run your beard into a peak." Beau. & Fl.

2. The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending in a point; often, the whole hill or mountain, esp. when isolated; as, the Peak of Teneriffe. Silent upon a peak in Darien. Keats.

3. (Naut.) (a) The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; -- used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards, peak-brails, etc. (b) The narrow part of a vessel's bow, or the hold within it. (c) The extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill. [In the last sense written also pea and pee.] Fore peak. (Naut.) See under Fore.

PEAK Peak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Peaking.]

1. To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a peak. There peaketh up a mighty high mount. Holand.

2. To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sicky. "Dwindle, peak, and pine." Shak.

3. Etym: [Cf. Peek.]

Defn: To pry; to peep slyly. Shak. Peak arch (Arch.), a pointed or Gothic arch.

PEAK Peak, v. t. (Naut.)

Defn: To raise to a position perpendicular, or more nearly so; as, to peak oars, to hold them upright; to peak a gaff or yard, to set it nearer the perpendicular.

PEAKED Peaked, a.

1. Pointed; ending in a point; as, a peaked roof.

2. (Oftener

Defn: Sickly; not robust. [Colloq.]

PEAKING Peak"ing, a.

1. Mean; sneaking. [Vulgar]

2. Pining; sickly; peakish. [Colloq.]

PEAKISH Peak"ish, a.

1. Of or relating to a peak; or to peaks; belonging to a mountainous region. "Her peakish spring." Drayton. "His peakish dialect." Bp. Hall.

2. Having peaks; peaked.

3. Having features thin or sharp, as from sickness; hence, sickly. [Colloq.]

PEAKY Peak"y, a.

1. Having a peak or peaks. Tennyson.

2. Sickly; peaked. [Colloq.]

PEAL Peal, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small salmon; a grilse; a sewin. [Prov. Eng.]

PEAL Peal, v. i.

Defn: To appeal. [Obs.] Spencer.

PEAL Peal, n. Etym: [An abbrev. of F. appel a call, appeal, ruffle of a drum, fr. appeller to call, L. appellare. See Appeal.]

1. A loud sound, or a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts, of a multitude, etc. "A fair peal of artillery." Hayward. Whether those peals of praise be his or no. Shak. And a deep thunder, peal on peal, afar. Byron.

2. A set of bells tuned to each other according to the diatonic scale; also, the changes rung on a set of bells. To ring a peal. See under Ring.

PEAL Peal, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pealing.]

1. To utter or give out loud sounds. There let the pealing organ blow. Milton.

2. To resound; to echo. And the whole air pealed With the cheers of our men. Longfellow.

PEAL Peal, v. t.

1. To utter or give forth loudly; to cause to give out loud sounds; to noise abroad. The warrior's name, Though pealed and chimed on all the tongues of fame. J. Barlow.

2. To assail with noise or loud sounds. Nor was his ear less pealed. Milton.

3. To pour out. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

PEAN Pean, n. Etym: [OF. pene, F. panne.] (Her.)

Defn: One of the furs, the ground being sable, and the spots or tufts or.

PEAN Pe"an, n.

Defn: A song of praise and triumph. See Pæan.

PEANISM Pe"an*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The song or shout of praise, of battle, or of triumph. [R.]

PEANUT Pea"nut, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The fruit of a trailing leguminous plant (Arachis hypogæa); also, the plant itself, which is widely cultivated for its fruit.

Note: The fruit is a hard pod, usually containing two or three seeds, sometimes but one, which ripen beneath the soil. Called also earthnut, groundnut, and goober.

PEANUT BUTTER Pea"nut but"ter.

Defn: A paste made by mixing ground fresh roasted peanuts with a small quantity of water or oil, and used chiefly as a relish on sandwiches, etc.

PEAR Pear, n. Etym: [OE. pere, AS. peru, L. pirum: cf. F. poire. Cf. Perry.] (Bot.)

Defn: The fleshy pome, or fruit, of a rosaceous tree (Pyrus communis), cultivated in many varieties in temperate climates; also, the tree which bears this fruit. See Pear family, below. Pear blight. (a) (Bot.) A name of two distinct diseases of pear trees, both causing a destruction of the branches, viz., that caused by a minute insect (Xyleborus pyri), and that caused by the freezing of the sap in winter. A. J. Downing. (b) (Zoöl.) A very small beetle (Xyleborus pyri) whose larvæ bore in the twigs of pear trees and cause them to wither. -- Pear family (Bot.), a suborder of rosaceous plants (Pomeæ), characterized by the calyx tube becoming fleshy in fruit, and, combined with the ovaries, forming a pome. It includes the apple, pear, quince, service berry, and hewthorn. -- Pear gauge (Physics), a kind of gauge for measuring the exhaustion of an air-pump receiver; -- so called because consisting in part of a pear-shaped glass vessel. Pear shell (Zoöl.), any marine gastropod shell of the genus Pyrula, native of tropical seas; -- so called from the shape. -- Pear slug (Zoöl.), the larva of a sawfly which is very injurious to the foliage of the pear tree.

PEARCH Pearch, n. [Obs.]

Defn: See Perch.

PEARL Pearl, n.

Defn: A fringe or border. [Obs.] -- v. t.

Defn: To fringe; to border. [Obs.] See Purl. Pearl stitch. See Purl stitch, under Purl.

PEARL Pearl, n. Etym: [OE. perle, F. perle, LL. perla, perula, probably fr. (assumed) L. pirulo, dim. of L. pirum a pear. See Pear, and cf. Purl to mantle.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones.

2. Hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious. I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl. Shak. And those pearls of dew she wears. Milton.

3. Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A light-colored tern.

6. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.

7. A whitish speck or film on the eye. [Obs.] Milton.

8. A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether.

9. (Print.)

Defn: A size of type, between agate and diamond. * This line is printed in the type called pearl. Ground pearl. (Zoöl.) See under Ground. -- Pearl barley, kernels of barley, ground so as to form small, round grains. -- Pearl diver, one who dives for pearl oysters. -- Pearl edge, an edge of small loops on the side of some kinds of ribbon; also, a narrow kind of thread edging to be sewed on lace. -- Pearl eye, cataract. [R.] -- Pearl gray, a very pale and delicate blue-gray color. -- Pearl millet, Egyptian millet (Penicillaria spicata). -- Pearl moss. See Carrageen. -- Pearl moth (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Margaritia; -- so called on account of its pearly color. -- Pearl oyster (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large tropical marine bivalve mollusks of the genus Meleagrina, or Margaritifera, found in the East Indies (especially at Ceylon), in the Persian Gulf, on the coast of Australia, and on the Pacific coast of America. Called also pearl shell, and pearl mussel. -- Pearl powder. See Pearl white, below. -- Pearl sago, sago in the form of small pearly grains. -- Pearl sinter (Min.), fiorite. -- Pearl spar (Min.), a crystallized variety of dolomite, having a pearly luster. -- Pearl white. (a) Basic bismuth nitrate, or bismuth subchloride; - - used chiefly as a cosmetic. (b) A variety of white lead blued with indigo or Berlin blue.

PEARL Pearl, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother-of-pearl.

PEARL Pearl, v. t.

1. To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively.

2. To cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley.

PEARL Pearl, v. i.

1. To resemble pearl or pearls.

2. To give or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling.

PEARLACEOUS Pearl*a"ceous, a.

Defn: Resembling pearl or mother-of-pearl; pearly in quality or appearance.

PEARLASH Pearl"ash`, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A white amorphous or granular substance which consists principally of potassium carbonate, and has a strong alkaline reaction. It is obtained by lixiviating wood ashes, and evaporating the lye, and has been an important source of potassium compounds. It is used in making soap, glass, etc.

PEARL-EYED Pearl"-eyed`, a.

Defn: Having a pearly speck in the eye; afflicted with the cataract.

PEARLFISH Pearl"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any fish whose scales yield a pearl-like pigment used in manufacturing artificial pearls, as the bleak, and whitebait.

PEARLINS; PEARLINGS Pearl"ins, Pearl"ings, n. pl. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of purflings. See Purfle.]

Defn: A kind of lace of silk or thread. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

PEARLITE; PEARLSTONE Pearl"ite, Pearl"stone`, n. (Min.)

Defn: A glassy volcanic rock of a grayish color and pearly luster, often having a spherulitic concretionary structure due to the curved cracks produced by contraction in cooling. See Illust. under Perlitic.

PEARLWORT Pearl"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A name given to several species of Sagina, low and inconspicuous herbs of the Chickweed family.

PEARLY Pearl"y, a.

1. Containing pearls; abounding with, or yielding, pearls; as, pearly shells. Milton.

2. Resembling pearl or pearls; clear; pure; transparent; iridescent; as, the pearly dew or flood.

PEARMAIN Pear"main, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The name of several kinds of apples; as, the blue pearmain, winter pearmain, and red pearmain.

PEAR-SHAPED Pear"-shaped`, a.

Defn: Of the form of a pear.

PEART Peart, a. Etym: [A variant of pert, a.]

Defn: Active; lively; brisk; smart; -- often applied to convalescents; as, she is quite peart to-day. [O. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.] There was a tricksy girl, I wot, albeit clad in gray, As peart as bird, as straight as bolt, as fresh as flowers in May. Warner (1592).

PEASANT Peas"ant, n. Etym: [OF. païsant (the i being perh. due to confusion with the p.pr. of verbs), païsan, F. paysan, fr. OF. & F. pays country, fr. L. pagus the country. See Pagan.]

Defn: A countryman; a rustic; especially, one of the lowest class of tillers of the soil in European countries.

Syn. -- Countryman; rustic; swain; hind.

PEASANT Peas"ant, a.

Defn: Rustic, rural. Spenser.

PEASANTLIKE Peas"ant*like`, a.

Defn: Rude; clownish; illiterate.

PEASANTLY Peas"ant*ly, a.

Defn: Peasantlike. [Obs.] Milton.

PEASANTRY Peas"ant*ry, n.

1. Peasants, collectively; the body of rustics. "A bold peasantry." Goldsmith.

2. Rusticity; coarseness. [Obs.] p. Butler.

PEASCOD Peas"cod`, n.

Defn: The legume or pericarp, or the pod, of the pea.

PEASE Pease, n.; obs.pl. Peases, Peasen. Etym: [See Pea.]

1. A pea. [Obs.] "A peose." "Bread . . . of beans and of peses." Piers Plowman.

2. A plural form of Pea. See the Note under Pea.

PEASTONE Pea"stone`, n. (Min.)

Defn: Pisolite.

PEASWEEP Peas"weep`, n. Etym: [So called from its note.] [Prov. Eng.] (Zoöl.) (a) The pewit, or lapwing. (b) The greenfinch.

PEAT Peat, n. Etym: [Cf. Pet a fondling.]

Defn: A small person; a pet; -- sometimes used contemptuously. [Obs.] Shak.

PEAT Peat, n. Etym: [Prob. for beat, prop., material used to make the fire burn better, fr. AS. b to better, mend (a fire), b advantage. See Better, Boot advantage.]

Defn: A substance of vegetable origin, consisting of roots and fibers, moss, etc., in various stages of decomposition, and found, as a kind of turf or bog, usually in low situations, where it is always more or less saturated with water. It is often dried and used for fuel. Peat bog, a bog containing peat; also, peat as it occurs in such places; peat moss. -- Peat moss. (a) The plants which, when decomposed, become peat. (b) A fen producing peat. (c) (Bot.) Moss of the genus Sphagnum, which often grows abundantly in boggy or peaty places. -- Peat reek, the reek or smoke of peat; hence, also, the peculiar flavor given to whisky by being distilled with peat as fuel. [Scot.]

PEATY Peat"y, a.

Defn: Composed of peat; abounding in peat; resembling peat.

PEAVEY; PEAVY Pea"vey Pea"vy, n. [Said to be from the inventor's name.] (Lumbering)

Defn: A cant hook having the end of its lever armed with a spike.

PEBA Pe"ba, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. peba.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An armadillo (Tatusia novemcincta) which is found from Texas to Paraguay; -- called also tatouhou.

PEBBLE Peb"ble, n. Etym: [AS. papolstan; cf. L. papula pimple, mote. See Stone.]

1. A small roundish stone or bowlder; especially, a stone worn and rounded by the action of water; a pebblestone. "The pebbles on the hungry beach." Shak. As children gathering pebbles on the shore. Milton.

2. Transparent and colorless rock crystal; as, Brazilian pebble; -- so called by opticians. Pebble powder, slow-burning gunpowder, in large cubical grains. -- Scotch pebble, varieties of quartz, as agate, chalcedony, etc., obtained from cavities in amygdaloid.

PEBBLE Peb"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pebbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pebbling.]

Defn: To grain (leather) so as to produce a surface covered with small rounded prominences.

PEBBLED Peb"bled, a.

Defn: Abounding in pebbles. Thomson.

PEBBLESTONE Peb"ble*stone`.

Defn: A pebble; also, pebbles collectively. "Chains of pebblestone." Marlowe.

PEBBLY Peb"bly, a.

Defn: Full of pebbles; pebbled. "A hard, pebbly bottom." Johnson.

PEBRINE Pe`brine", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: An epidemic disease of the silkworm, characterized by the presence of minute vibratory corpuscles in the blood.

PECAN Pe*can", n. Etym: [Cf. F. pacane the nut.] (Bot.)

Defn: A species of hickory (Carya olivæformis), growing in North America, chiefly in the Mississippi valley and in Texas, where it is one of the largest of forest trees; also, its fruit, a smooth, oblong nut, an inch or an inch and a half long, with a thin shell and well- flavored meat. [Written also pacane.]

PECARY Pec"a*ry, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Peccary.

PECCABILITY Pec`ca*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being peccable; lability to sin. The common peccability of mankind. Dr. H. More.

PECCABLE Pec"ca*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. peccable. See Peccant.]

Defn: Liable to sin; subject to transgress the divine law. "A frail and peccable mortal." Sir W. Scott.

PECCADILLO Pec`ca*dil"lo, n; pl. Peccadillos. Etym: [Sp. pecadillo, dim. of pecado a sin, fr. L. peccatum. See Peccant.]

Defn: A slight trespass or offense; a petty crime or fault. Sir W. Scott.

PECCANCY Pec"can*cy, n. Etym: [L. peccantia.]

1. The quality or state of being peccant.

2. A sin; an offense. W. Montagu.

PECCANT Pec"cant, a. Etym: [L. peccans, -antis, p.pr. of peccare to sin: cf. F. peccant.]

1. Sinning; guilty of transgression; criminal; as, peccant angels. Milton.

2. Morbid; corrupt; as, peccant humors. Bacon.

3. Wrong; defective; faulty. [R.] Ayliffe.

PECCANT Pec"cant, n.

Defn: An offender. [Obs.] Whitlock.

PECCANTLY Pec"cant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a peccant manner.

PECCARY Pec"ca*ry, n.; pl. Peccaries. Etym: [From the native South American name: cf. F. pécari, Sp. pecar.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A pachyderm of the genus Dicotyles.

Note: The collared peccary, or tajacu (Dicotyles torquatus), is about the size and shape of a small hog, and has a white ring aroung the neck. It ranges from Arkansas to Brazil. A larger species (D. labiatus), with white cheeks, is found in South America.

PECCAVI Pec*ca"vi. Etym: [L.]

Defn: I have sinned; -- used colloquially to express confession or acknowledgment of an offense. Aubrey.

PECCO Pec"co, n.

Defn: See Pekoe.

PECK Peck, n. Etym: [Perh. akin to pack; or, orig., an indefinite quantity, and fr. peck, v. (below): cf. also F. picotin a peak.]

1. The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts; as, a peck of wheat. "A peck of provender." Shak.

2. A great deal; a large or excessive quantity. "A peck of uncertainties and doubts." Milton.

PECK Peck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pecked; p. pr. & vb. n. Pecking.] Etym: [See Pick, v.]

1. To strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into; as, a bird pecks a tree.

2. Hence: To strike, pick, thrust against, or dig into, with a pointed instrument; especially, to strike, pick, etc., with repeated quick movements.

3. To seize and pick up with the beak, or as with the beak; to bite; to eat; -- often with up. Addison. This fellow pecks up wit as pigeons peas. Shak.

4. To make, by striking with the beak or a pointed instrument; as, to peck a hole in a tree.

PECK Peck, v. i.

1. To make strokes with the beak, or with a pointed instrument. Carew.

2. To pick up food with the beak; hence, to eat. [The hen] went pecking by his side. Dryden. To peck at, to attack with petty and repeated blows; to carp at; to nag; to tease.

PECK Peck, n.

Defn: A quick, sharp stroke, as with the beak of a bird or a pointed instrument.

PECKER Peck"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, pecks; specif., a bird that pecks holes in trees; a woodpecker.

2. An instrument for pecking; a pick. Garth. Flower pecker. (Zoöl.) See under Flower.

PECKISH Peck"ish, a.

Defn: Inclined to eat; hungry. [Colloq.] "When shall I feel peckish again" Beaconsfield.

PECKLED Pec"kled, a.

Defn: Speckled; spotted. [Obs.]

PECOPTERIS Pe*cop"te*ris, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: An extensive genus of fossil ferns; -- so named from the regular comblike arrangement of the leaflets.

PECORA Pec"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. pecus. See Pecuniary.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An extensive division of ruminants, including the antelopes, deer, and cattle.

PECTATE Pec"tate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of pectic acid.

PECTEN Pec"ten, n. Etym: [L. pecten, -inis, a comb, a kind of shellfish. See Pectinate.]

1. (Anat.) (a) A vascular pigmented membrane projecting into the vitreous humor within the globe of the eye in birds, and in many reptiles and fishes; -- also called marsupium. (b) The pubic bone.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of bivalve mollusks of the genus Pecten, and numerous allied genera (family Pectinidæ); a scallop. See Scallop.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The comb of a scorpion. See Comb, 4 (b).

PECTIC Pec"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: 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.

PECTIN Pec"tin, n. Etym: [Gr. pectine.] (Chem.)

Defn: 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.

PECTINAL Pec"ti*nal, a. Etym: [L. pecten comb. See Pectinate.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a comb; resembling a comb.

PECTINAL Pec"ti*nal, n.

Defn: A fish whose bone Sir T. Browne.

PECTINATE; PECTINATED Pec"ti*na`te, Pec"ti*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. pectinatus, p.pr. of pectinare to comb, from pecten, -inis, a comb; cf. Gr. feax hair, OHG. fahs, E. paxwax.]

1. Resembling the teeth of a comb.

2. (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: 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 Antennæ.

3. Interlaced, like two combs. [R.] "Our fingers pectinated, or shut together." Sir T. Browne. Pectinate claw (Zoöl.), a claw having a serrate edge, found in some birds, and supposed to be used in cleaning the feathers.

PECTINATELY Pec"ti*nate*ly, adv.

Defn: In a pectinate manner.

PECTINATION 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.)

Defn: Comblike toothing.

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

PECTINIBRANCH Pec*tin"i*branch, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Pectinibranchiata. Also used adjectively.

PECTINIBRANCHIATA Pec`ti*ni*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pecten, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Gastropoda, including those that have a comblike gill upon the neck.

PECTINIBRANCHIATE Pec`ti*ni*bran"chi*ate, a. Etym: [L. pecten, -inis, a comb + E. branchiate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having pectinated gills.

PECTINIFORM Pec*tin"i*form, a.

Defn: Comblike in form.

PECTIZE Pec*tize", v. i. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: To congeal; to change into a gelatinous mass. [R.] H. Spencer.

PECTOLITE Pec"to*lite, n. Etym: [L. pecten a comb + -lite.] (Min.)

Defn: A whitish mineral occurring in radiated or fibrous crystalline masses. It is a hydrous silicate of lime and soda.

PECTORAL Pec"to*ral, a. Etym: [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. (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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 (Zoöl.), fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under Fin. -- Pectorial rail. (Zoöl.) See Land rail (b) under Land. -- Pectorial sandpiper (Zoöl.), the jacksnipe (b).

PECTORAL Pec"to*ral, n. Etym: [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.

PECTORALLY Pec"to*ral*ly, adv.

Defn: As connected with the breast.

PECTORILOQUIAL Pec`to*ri*lo"qui*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pectoriloque.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, pectoriloquy.

PECTORILOQUISM Pec`to*ril"o*quism, n.

Defn: Pectoriloquy.

PECTORILOQUOUS Pec`to*ril"o*quous, a.

Defn: Pectoriloquial.

PECTORILOQUY Pec`to*ril"o*quy, n. Etym: [L. pectus, -oris, the breast + loqui to speak: cf. F. pectoriloquie.] (Med.)

Defn: 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.

PECTOSE Pec"tose`, n. Etym: [Pectic + cellulose.] (Chem.)

Defn: 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.

PECTOSIC Pec*to"sic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, resembling, or derived from, pectose; specifically, designating an acid supposed to constitute largely ordinary pectin or vegetable jelly.

PECTOSTRACA Pec*tos"tra*ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A degenerate order of Crustacea, including the Rhizocephala and Cirripedia.

PECTOUS Pec"tous, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or consisting of, pectose.

PECTUS Pec"tus, n.; pl. Pectora. Etym: [L., the breast.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The breast of a bird.

PECUL Pec"ul, n.

Defn: See Picul.

PECULATE Pec"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Peculating.] Etym: [L. peculatus, p.p. of peculari to peculate, akin to peculium private property. See Peculiar.]

Defn: 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.

PECULATION Pec`u*la"tion, n.

Defn: 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.

PECULATOR Pec"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who peculates. "Peculators of the public gold." Cowper.

PECULIAR Pe*cul"iar, a. Etym: [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.

PECULIAR 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)

Defn: 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.

PECULIARITY 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.

PECULIARIZE Pe*cul"iar*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pecularized; p. pr. & vb. n. Pecularizing.]

Defn: To make peculiar; to set appart or assign, as an exclusive possession. [R.] Dr. John Smith.

PECULIARLY Pe*cul"iar*ly, adv.

Defn: In a peculiar manner; particulary; in a rare and striking degree; unusually.

PECULIARNESS Pe*cul"iar*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being peculiar; peculiarity. Mede.

PECULIUM Pe*cu"li*um, n. Etym: [L. See Peculiar.]

1. (Rom. Law)

Defn: 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.

PECUNIAL Pe*cu"ni*al, a.

Defn: Pecuniary. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PECUNIARILY Pe*cun"ia*ri*ly, adv.

Defn: In a pecuniary manner; as regards money.

PECUNIARY Pe*cun"ia*ry, a. Etym: [L. pecuniarius, fr. pecunia money, orig., property in cattle, fr. pecus cattle: cf. F. pécuniaire. See Fee, and cf. Peculiar.]

1. Relating to money; monetary; as, a pecuniary penalty; a pecuniary reward. Burke.

PECUNIOUS Pe*cu"ni*ous, a. Etym: [L. pecuniosus, fr. pecunia: cf. F. pécunieux.]

Defn: Abounding in money; wealthy; rich. [Obs.] Sherwood.

PED Ped, n. Etym: [OE. See Peddler.]

Defn: A basket; a hammer; a pannier. [Obs.] Halliwell.

PEDAGE Ped"age, n. Etym: [LL. pedagium, for pedaticum. See Paage.]

Defn: A toll or tax paid by passengers, entitling them to safe- conduct and protection. [Obs.] Spelman.

PEDAGOG Ped"a*gog, n.

Defn: Pedagogue.

PEDAGOGIC Ped`a*gog"ic, n. Etym: [From Pedagogic, a.; cf. G. pedagogik.]

Defn: See Pedagogics.

PEDAGOGIC; PEDAGOGICAL Ped`a*gog"ic, Ped`a*gog"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. pédagogique. See Pedagogue.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a pedagogue; suited to, or characteristic of, a pedagogue.

PEDAGOGICS Ped`a*gog"ics, n.

Defn: The science or art of teaching; the principles and rules of teaching; pedagogy.

PEDAGOGISM Ped"a*gog*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pédagogisme.]

Defn: The system, occupation, character, or manner of pedagogues. Milton. Avocation of pedantry and pedagogism. De Foe.

PEDAGOGUE Ped"a*gogue, n. Etym: [F. pédagogue, L. paedagogus, Gr. Page a servant, Agent.]

1. (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: 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.

PEDAGOGUE Ped"a*gogue, v. t. Etym: [Cf. L. paedagogare to instruct.]

Defn: To play the pedagogue toward. [Obs.] Prior.

PEDAGOGY Ped"a*go`gy, n. Etym: [Gr. pédagogie.]

Defn: Pedagogics; pedagogism. South.

PEDAL Pe"dal, a. Etym: [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 (Zoöl.), pertaining to the foot of a mollusk; as, the pedal ganglion.

2. (

Defn: 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.

PEDAL Pe"dal, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pédale, It. pedale. See Pedal, a.]

1. (Mech.)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: A pedal curve or surface.

PEDALIAN Pe*da"li*an, a.

Defn: Relating to the foot, or to a metrical foot; pedal. [R.] Maunder.

PEDALITY Pe*dal"i*ty, n.

Defn: The act of measuring by paces. [R.] Ash.

PEDANEOUS Pe*da"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. pedaneus of the size of a foot.]

Defn: Going on foot; pedestrian. [R.]

PEDANT Ped"ant, n. Etym: [F. pédant, It. pedante, fr. Gr. 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.

PEDANTIC; PEDANTICAL Pe*dan"tic, Pe*dan"tic*al, a.

Defn: 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.

PEDANTICALLY Pe*dan"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a pedantic manner.

PEDANTICLY Pe*dan"tic*ly, adv.

Defn: Pedantically. [R.]

PEDANTISM Ped"ant*ism, n.

Defn: The office, disposition, or act of a pedant; pedantry. [Obs.]

PEDANTIZE Ped"ant*ize, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. pédantiser.]

Defn: To play the pedant; to use pedantic expressions. [R.]

PEDANTOCRACY Ped`an*toc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Pedant + democracy.]

Defn: The sway of pedants. [R.] J. S. Mill.

PEDANTRY Ped"ant*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pédanterie.]

Defn: 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.

PEDANTY Ped"ant*y, n.

Defn: An assembly or clique of pedants. [Obs.] Milton.

PEDARIAN Pe*da"ri*an, n. Etym: [L. pedarius, fr. pedarius belonging to the foot, fr. pes, pedis, foot.] (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: 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.

PEDARY Ped"a*ry, n.; pl. Pedaries. Etym: [L. pedarius of the foot.]

Defn: A sandal. [Obs.] Latimer.

PEDATA Pe*da"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pedate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of holothurians, including those that have ambulacral suckers, or feet, and an internal gill.

PEDATE Ped"ate, a. Etym: [L. pedatus, p.p. of pedare to furnish with feet, fr. pes, pedis, a foot.] (Bot.)

Defn: Palmate, with the lateral lobes cleft into two or more segments; -- said of a leaf. -- Ped"ate*ly, adv.

PEDATIFID Pe*dat"i*fid, a. Etym: [Pedate + root of L. findere to split.] [Colloq.]

Defn: Cleft in a pedate manner, but having the lobes distinctly connected at the base; -- said of a leaf.

PEDDLE Ped"dle, v. i. Etym: [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.

PEDDLE Ped"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Peddling.]

Defn: 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.

PEDDLER Ped"dler, n. Etym: [OE. pedlere, pedlare, also peddare, peoddare, fr. OE. ped a basket, of unknown origin.]

Defn: 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.

PEDDLERY Ped"dler*y, n. Etym: [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.

PEDDLING Ped"dling, a.

1. Hawking; acting as a peddler.

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

PEDERAST Ped"er*ast, n. Etym: [Gr. paiderasth`s; pai^s, paido`s, a boy + 'era^n to love: cf. F. pédéraste.]

Defn: One guilty of pederasty; a sodomite.

PEDERASTIC Ped`er*as"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. paiderastiko`s.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to pederasty.

PEDERASTY Ped"er*as`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. paiderasti`a: cf. F. pédérastie.]

Defn: The crime against nature; sodomy.

PEDERERO Ped`e*re"ro, n. Etym: [Sp. pedrero, fr. OSp. pedra, Sp. piedra, a stone, L. petra, fr. Gr. (Mil.)

Defn: A term formerly applied to a short piece of chambered ordnance. [Written also paterero and peterero.]

PEDESIS Pe*de"sis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr.

Defn: Same as Brownian movement, under Brownian.

PEDESTAL Ped"es*tal, n. Etym: [Sp. pedestal; cf. F. piédestal, 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.)

Defn: 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.

PEDESTALED Ped"es*taled, a.

Defn: Placed on, or supported by, a pedestal; figuratively, exalted. Hawthorne. Pedestaled haply in a palace court. Keats.

PEDESTRIAL Pe*des"tri*al, a. Etym: [L. pedester, -esteris, fr. pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. pédestere. See Pedal.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the feet; employing the foot or feet.

PEDESTRIALLY Pe*des"tri*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a pedestrial manner.

PEDESTRIAN Pe*des"tri*an, a.

Defn: Going on foot; performed on foot; as, a pedestrian journey.

PEDESTRIAN Pe*des"tri*an, n.

Defn: A walker; one who journeys on foot; a foot traveler; specif., a professional walker or runner.

PEDESTRIANISM Pe*des"tri*an*ism, n.

Defn: The act, art, or practice of a pedestrian; walking or running; traveling or racing on foot.

PEDESTRIANIZE Pe*des"tri*an*ize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pedestrianized; p. pr. & vb. n. Pedestrianizing.]

Defn: To practice walking; to travel on foot.

PEDESTRIOUS Pe*des"tri*ous, a.

Defn: Going on foot; not winged. [Obs.] "Pedestrious animals." Sir T. Browne.

PEDETENTOUS Ped`e*ten"tous, a. Etym: [L. pes, pedis, foot + tendere to stretch out: cf. L. tentim by degrees.]

Defn: 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.

PEDI-; PEDO- Ped"i-, Ped"o-. Etym: [See Foot.]

Defn: Combining forms from L. pes, pedis, foot, as pedipalp, pedireme, pedometer.

PEDIAL Pe"di*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the foot, or to any organ called a foot; pedal. Dana.

PEDIATRIC Ped`i*at"ric (ped`i*at"rik or ped`i*at"rik), a. [Gr. pai^s, paido`s, child + 'iatrei`a healing.] (Med.)

Defn: Pertaining to the care and medical treatment of children. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

PEDIATRICS Ped`i*at"rics, n.

Defn: That branch of medical science which treats of the hygiene and diseases of children.

PEDICEL Ped"i*cel, n. Etym: [F. pédicelle. 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 algæ, or a sporangium in ferns.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

PEDICELED Ped"i*celed, a.

Defn: Pedicellate.

PEDICELLARIA Ped`i*cel*la"ri*a, n.; pl. Pedicellariæ. Etym: [NL. See Pedicel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

PEDICELLATE Ped"i*cel`late, a.

Defn: Having a pedicel; supported by a pedicel.

PEDICELLINA Ped`i*cel*li"na, n. Etym: [NL. See Pedicel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of Bryozoa, of the order Entoprocta, having a bell- shaped body supported on a slender pedicel. See Illust. under Entoprocta.

PEDICLE Ped"i*cle, n. Etym: [L. pediculus a little foot, dim. of pes foot: cf. F. pédicule. See edal, and cf. Pedicel.]

Defn: Same as Pedicel.

PEDICULAR Pe*dic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. pedicularis, fr. pediculus a louse: cf. F. pédiculaire.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to lice; having the lousy distemper (phthiriasis); lousy. Southey.

PEDICULATE Pe*dic"u*late, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Pediculati.

PEDICULATI Pe*dic`u*la"ti, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pedicle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of fishes including the anglers. See Illust. of Angler and Batfish.

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

Defn: Phthiriasis.

PEDICULE Ped"i*cule, n. Etym: [See Pedicle.]

Defn: A pedicel.

PEDICULINA Pe*dic`u*li"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pediculus.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of parasitic hemipterous insects, including the true lice. See Illust. in Appendix.

PEDICULOUS Pe*dic"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. pediculosus.]

Defn: Pedicular.

PEDICULUS Pe*dic"u*lus, n.; pl. Pediculi. Etym: [L., a louse.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of wingless parasitic Hemiptera, including the common lice of man. See Louse.

PEDICURE Ped"i*cure, n. [Pedi- + L. cura care.]

1. The care of the feet and nails.

2. One who cares for the feet and nails; a chiropodist. -- Ped"i*cure, v. t. --Ped"i*cur*ism (#), n. --Ped"i*cur*ist (#), n.

PEDIFORM Ped"i*form, a. Etym: [Pedi- + -form.]

Defn: Shaped like a foot.

PEDIGEROUS Pe*dig"er*ous, a. Etym: [Pedi- + -gerous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Bearing or having feet or legs.

PEDIGREE Ped"i*gree, n. Etym: [Of unknown origin; possibly fr. F. par degrés 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)

Defn: A record of the lineage or strain of an animal, as of a horse.

PEDIGREE CLAUSE Ped"i*gree clause.

Defn: A clause sometimes inserted in contracts or specifications, requiring that a material of construction, as cement, must be of a brand that has stood the test of a specified number of years' use in an important public work. [Cant, U. S.]

PEDILUVY Ped"i*lu`vy, n. Etym: [Pedi- + L. luere to wash: cf. It. & Sp. pediluvio, F. pédiluve.]

Defn: The bathing of the feet, a bath for the feet. [Obs.]

PEDIMANA Pe*dim"a*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. pes, pedis, foot + manus hand.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of marsupials, including the opossums.

PEDIMANE Ped"i*mane, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pédimane.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A pedimanous marsupial; an opossum.

PEDIMANOUS Pe*dim"a*nous, a. Etym: [See Pedimana.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having feet resembling hands, or with the first toe opposable, as the opossums and monkeys.

PEDIMENT Ped"i*ment, n. Etym: [L. pes, pedis, a foot. See Foot.] (Arch.)

Defn: 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.

PEDIMENTAL Ped`i*men"tal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a pediment.

PEDIPALP Ped"i*palp, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pédipalpe.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Pedipalpi.

PEDIPALPI Ped`i*pal"pi, n pl. Etym: [NL. See Pedipalpus.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Arachnida, including the whip scorpions (Thelyphonus) and allied forms. Sometimes used in a wider sense to include also the true scorpions.

PEDIPALPOUS Ped`i*pal"pous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the pedipalps.

PEDIPALPUS Ped`i*pal"pus, n.; pl. Pedipalpi. Etym: [NL. See Pes, and Palpus.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

PEDIREME Ped"i*reme, n. Etym: [Pedi- + L. remus oar.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A crustacean, some of whose feet serve as oars.

PEDLAR; PEDLER Ped"lar, Ped"ler, n.

Defn: See Peddler.

PEDOBAPTISM Pe`do*bap"tism, n. Etym: [Gr. baptism.]

Defn: The baptism of infants or of small children. [Written also pædobaptism.]

PEDOBAPTIST Pe`do*bap"tist, n.

Defn: One who advocates or practices infant baptism. [Written also pædobaptist.]

PEDOGRAPH Ped"o*graph, n. [Gr. ground + -graph.]

Defn: An instrument carried by a pedestrian for automatically making a topographical record of the ground covered during a journey.

PEDOLOGY Pe*dol"o*gy, n. [Gr. , , child + -logy.] (Med.)

Defn: Pediatrics.

PEDOMANCY Ped"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Pedi- + -mancy.]

Defn: Divination by examining the soles of the feet.

PEDOMETER Pe*dom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Pedi-, pedo- + -meter: cf. F. pédomètre.] (Mech.)

Defn: 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.

PEDOMETRIC; PEDOMETRICAL Ped`o*met"ric, Ped`o*met"ric*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or measured by, a pedometer.

PEDOMOTIVE Ped`o*mo"tive, a. Etym: [Pedi-, pedo- + -motive.]

Defn: Moved or worked by the action of the foot or feet on a pedal or treadle.

PEDOTROPHY Pe*dot"ro*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. pédotrophie.]

Defn: The art of nourishing children properly.

PEDRAIL Ped"rail`, n. [See Pedi-; Rail.] (Mach.) (a) A device intended to replace the wheel of a self-propelled vehicle for use on rough roads and to approximate to the smoothness in running of a wheel on a metal track. The tread consists of a number of rubber shod feet which are connected by ball-and-socket joints to the ends of sliding spokes. Each spoke has attached to it a small roller which in its turn runs under a short pivoted rail controlled by a powerful set of springs. This arrangement permits the feet to accomodate themselves to obstacles even such as steps or stairs. The pedrail was invented by one B. J. Diplock of London, Eng. (b) A vehicle, as a traction engine, having such pedrails.

PEDREGAL Pe`dre*gal", n. Etym: [Sp., a stony place, fr. piedra stone.]

Defn: A lava field. [Mexico & Western U.S.]

PEDRO Pe"dro, n. [From Sp. Pedro Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. .] (Card Playing) (a) The five of trumps in certain varieties of auction pitch. (b) A variety of auction pitch in which the five of trumps counts five.

PEDUNCLE Pe*dun"cle, n. Etym: [Formed fr. (assumed) L. pedunculus, dim. of pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. pédoncule.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The stem or stalk that supports the flower or fruit of a plant, or a cluster of flowers or fruits.

Note: 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. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sort of stem by which certain shells and barnacles are attached to other objects. See Illust. of Barnacle.

3. (Anat.)

Defn: 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.

PEDUNCLED Pe*dun"cled, a.

Defn: Having a peduncle; supported on a peduncle; pedunculate.

PEDUNCULAR Pe*dun"cu*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pédonculaire.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a peduncle; growing from a peduncle; as, a peduncular tendril.

PEDUNCULATA Pe*dun`cu*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Peduncle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Cirripedia, including the stalked or goose barnacles.

PEDUNCULATE; PEDUNCULATED Pe*dun"cu*late, Pe*dun"cu*la`ted, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Having a peduncle; growing on a peduncle; as, a pedunculate flower; a pedunculate eye, as in a lobster.

PEE Pee, n.

Defn: See 1st Pea.

PEE Pee, n. (Naut.)

Defn: Bill of an anchor. See Peak, 3 (c).

PEECE Peece, n. & v. [Obs.]

Defn: See Piece.

PEECHI Pee"chi, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The dauw.

PEEK Peek, v. i. Etym: [OE. piken: cf. F. piquer to pierce, prick, E. pique. Cf. Peak.]

Defn: To look slyly, or with the eyes half closed, or through a crevice; to peep. [Colloq.]

PEEKABOO Peek"a*boo, n.

Defn: A child's game; bopeep.

PEEL Peel, n. Etym: [OE. pel. Cf. Pile a heap.]

Defn: A small tower, fort, or castle; a keep. [Scot.]

PEEL Peel, n. Etym: [F. pelle, L. pala.]

Defn: 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 Peel, v. t. Etym: [Confused with peel to strip, but fr. F. piller to pillage. See Pill to rob, Pillage.]

Defn: To plunder; to pillage; to rob. [Obs.] But govern ill the nations under yoke, Peeling their provinces. Milton.

PEEL Peel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peeled; p. pr. & vb. n. Peeling.] Etym: [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 Peel, v. i.

Defn: 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 Peel, n.

Defn: The skin or rind; as, the peel of an orange.

PEELE Pee"le, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

PEELER Peel"er, n.

Defn: One who peels or strips.

PEELER Peel"er, n. Etym: [See Peel to plunder.]

Defn: A pillager.

PEELER Peel"er, n.

Defn: A nickname for a policeman; -- so called from Sir Robert Peel. [British Slang] See Bobby.

PEELHOUSE Peel"house`, n.

Defn: See 1st Peel. Sir W. Scott.

PEEN Peen, n. Etym: [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 Peen, v. t.

Defn: To draw, bend, or straighten, as metal, by blows with the peen of a hammer or sledge.

PEENGE Peenge, v. i.

Defn: To complain. [Scot.]

PEEP Peep, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peeped; p. pr. & vb. n. Peeping.] Etym: [Of imitative origin; cf. OE. pipen, F. piper, pépier, 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.

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 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. (Zoöl.) (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]

PEEPER 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.]

PEEPHOLE Peep"hole`, n.

Defn: A hole, or crevice, through which one may peep without being discovered.

PEEPING HOLE Peep"ing hole`.

Defn: See Peephole.

PEEP SIGHT Peep sight.