Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pēa'chick, n. p. 960The chicken or young of the peacock.Pēach'y, a. p. 960Like, or containing, peaches.Pēa'cŏck, n. p. 960(Ornith.) The male of a gallinaceous fowl (Pavo cristatus), about the size of the turkey. The rump feathers are long and capable of being erected, and each is marked with a black spot, around which…Pēa'cōck-fish, n. p. 960(Ichth.) A beautiful fish of the Mediterranean (Labrus pavo of Linnæus).Pēa'-crab, n. p. 960(Zoöl.) A small species of crab, not much larger than a bean, of the genus Pinnotheres, which lives in muscles, oysters, and other living shells. Dana.Pēa'fowl, n. p. 960The peacock or peahen.Pē'age, n. p. 960See PEDAGE.Pēa'hen, n. p. 960The hen or female of the peacock.Pēa'-jäck'et, n. p. 960A thick woolen jacket worn by seamen, &c.Pēak, n. p. 960A point; the end of any thing that terminates in a point; specifically, (a.) the top of a hill or mountain, ending in a point; as, the peak of Teneriffe. (b.) (Naut.) The upper, outer corner of a…Pēak, v. i. p. 960To acquire sharpness of figure or features; to look thin or sickly. “Dwindle, peak, and pine.” Shak. 2. To make a mean figure; to sneak. Why standest thou here, then, Sneaking and peaking, as thou…Pēak, v. t. p. 960(Naut.) To raise to a position perpendicular, or nearly so; as, to peak oars, to hold them upright; to peak a gaff or yard, to set it more obliquely to the mast.Pēak'ed, a. p. 960Pointed; ending in a point.Pēak'ing, a. p. 960Mean; sneaking; poor. [Vulgar.]Pēak'ish, a. p. 960Having peaks; peaked; acuminated. Drayton. 2. Having features that seem thin or sharp, as from sickness. [Collog.] Smart.Pēal, n. p. 960A loud sound, or a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts of a multitude, &c. “Whether those peals of praise be his or no.” Milton. “Who vanquished with a peal of words?”…Pēal, v. i. p. 960To utter loud and solemn sounds. There let the pealing organ blow. Milton.Pēal, v. t. p. 960To assail with noise. Nor was his ear less pealed. Milton. 2. To cause to ring or sound; to celebrate. The warrior's name, Though pealed and chimed on all the tongues of fame. J. Barlow. 3. To stir…Pēal, v. i. p. 960To appeal. [Obs. and rare.] Spenser.Pē'an, n. p. 960A song of praise and triumph.Pē'an-ism, n. p. 960The song or shouts of praise or of battle; shouts of triumph. Mitford.Pēa'-nŭt, n. p. 960(Bot.) A plant, the Arachis hypogæa; earth-nut. See EARTH-NUT.Pēa'-ōre, n. p. 960(Min.) Argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in round grains of the size of a pea. Humble.Peâr, n. p. 960(Bot.) (a.) A tree of the genus Pyrus (P. communis), of many varieties, some of which produce delicious fruits. (b.) The fruit of the Pyrus communis.Pēarch, n. p. 960See PERCH.Pēar'-gāuge, n. p. 960A gauge for measuring the exhaustion of an air-pump receiver, consisting of a tube open at bottom and held by a wire passing through the top of the receiver, so that, after exhaustion, the bottom of…Pēa'-ri'fle, n. p. 960A rifle of small bore carrying a ball of the size of a pea. Atkinson.Pēarl, n. p. 960A silvery or bluish white, hard, smooth, lustrous substance, usually roundish, found inside the shells of several species of mollusks, particularly the pearl oyster. Pearls consist of the carbonate…Pēarl, v. t. p. 960To set or adorn with pearls. 2. To make in shape and appearance like pearls; as, to pearl barley.Pēarl, v. i. p. 960To resemble pearls. Spenser.Pēarl, a. p. 960Made of, or pertaining to, pearl; also, made of mother-of-pearl.Pēarl-ā'ceoŭs, a. p. 960Resembling mother-of-pearl.Pēarl'āsh, n. p. 960A somewhat impure carbonate of potassa, obtained by calcining potashes upon a reverberatory hearth. Ure.Pēarl'-bär'ley, n. p. 960The small, round kernel which remains after the skin and a portion of the barley have been ground off, by passing it between millstones of a peculiar kind, the kernels having been previously steamed…Pēarl'-bŭt'ton, n. p. 960A button made of mother-of-pearl.Pēarl'-dīv'er, n. p. 960One who dives for pearls.Pēarl'-ēdge, n. p. 960A projection on the side of some qualities of ribbon; also, a narrow kind of thread edging to be sewed on lace. Simmonds.Pĕarl'-eye, n. p. 960A disease of the eye; cataract. [Obs.]Pēarl'-ēyed, a. p. 960Having a speck in the eye; afflicted with the cataract.Pēarl'-grāss, n. p. 960See PĒARL-WORT.Pēar'ling or Pēar'lings, n. pl. p. 960A kind of lace of silk or thread. Jamieson. W. Scott.Pēarl'-mŏss, n. p. 960See CARRAGEEN.Pēarl'-oys/ter, n. p. 960The oyster which yields pearls.Pēarl'-pow'der, n. p. 960A powder made from nitrate of bismuth, and sometimes used as a cosmetic; pearl-white. Simmonds.Pēarl'-sā'go, n. p. 960Sago in the form of hard grains, not larger than a pin's head.Pēarl'-sīn’ter, n. p. 960(Min.) A variety of silicious sinter, of grayish and whitish colors; florite. Ore.Pĕarl'-spăr, n. p. 960(Min.) A crystallized variety of dolomite, having a pearly luster.Pēarl'-stitch, n. p. 960An ornamental stitch on knit stockings.Pēar'l-stōne, n. p. 960(Min.) A semi-glassy volcanic product, of a grayish color, occurring sometimes in concretions. Dana.Pēar'l'-stūd'ded, a. p. 960Studded with pearls. Scott.Pēarl'-white, n. p. 960A white powder precipitated from the nitrate of bismuth by a solution of sea-salt; pearl-powder. Ure.Pēarl'-wort, n. p. 960(Bot.) An annual plant of the genus Sagina;—called also pearl-grass.Pēarl'y, a. p. 960Containing pearls; abounding with pearls; as, pearly shells; a pearly shore. 2. Resembling pearls; clear; pure; transparent; as, the pearly flood; pearly dew.Peār'māin or Peār-māin', n. p. 960A variety of the apple.Peār'-shāped, a. p. 960Having the form of a pear, ovate beneath and conical above. Henslow.Pēart, a. p. 960Active in a high degree; lively; brisk;—often applied to persons recovering from sickness. Wright. There was a tricksy girl, I wot, albeit clad in gray. As peart as bird, as straight as bolt, as…Pēas'ant, n. p. 960A countryman; one whose business is rural labor; a rustic; especially, one of the lowest class of tillers of the soil in European countries. Syn.—Countryman; rustic; swain; hind.Pĕas'ant, a. p. 960Rustic; rural. Spenser.Pĕas'ant-like or Pĕas'ant-ly, a. p. 960Rude; clownish; illiterate; resembling peasants. Milton.Peas'ant-ry, n. p. 960The lowest class of tillers of the soil; laborers; peasants; rustics; the body of country people. 2. Rusticity. [Obs.] Butler.