Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pee'vit, n. p. 963See PEWIT.Pĕg, n. p. 963A small, pointed piece of wood, used in fastening boards to hang any thing on; a wooden nail or pin. 2. One of the pins of an instrument, on which the strings are strained. Shak. A peg lower, or a…Pĕg, v. t. p. 963To fasten with pegs. 2. Hence, to confine, restrict, restrain, or limit. I will not be pegged down to any plot, nor follow any walk. Landor.Pe-gā'se-an, a. p. 963Relating to, or resembling, Pegasus.Pĕg'a-sŭs, n. p. 963(Gr. Myth.) A certain winged horse of the Muses, who sprang from the blood of Medusa when she was slain, and with a blow of his hoof caused Hippocrene, the fountain of the Muses, to spring from Mount…Pĕg'ger, n. p. 963One who fastens with pegs.Pēgm, n. p. 963A sort of moving machine in the old pageants. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Pĕg'ma-tīte, n. p. 963(Min.) A variety of granite, in which the quartz, as seen over the surface, has some resemblance to Oriental writing;—called also graphic granite. Dana.Pĕg'o-măn'çy, n. p. 963Divination by fountains.Pĕg'-tănk'ard, n. p. 963A tankard marked inside by pins or pegs dividing the liquor into equal portions, so that they who drank from it should share alike. [Obs.] Fosbroke.Pe-gu'an, n. p. 963(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Pegu, in Burmah, Asia.Pe-gu'an, a. p. 963(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Pegu, or its inhabitants.Pe-gu'er, n. p. 963(Geog.) A Peguan.Peī-răm'e-ter, n. p. 963An instrument for measuring the amount of resistance to wheel carriages on roads of different constructions. Francis.Peī-răs'tic, a. p. 963Making trial; designed as a beginning or experiment; experimental; tentative; treating of, or representing, trials or attempts.Peise, n. p. 963A weight; a poise. [Obs.]Peise, v. t. p. 963To poise or weigh; to counterbalance; to outweigh. [Obs.] “Lest leaden slumber peise me down.” Shak. But all the wrongs that he therein could lay, Might it not peise. Spenser.Pĕk'an, n. p. 963(Zoöl.) A carnivorous quadruped of the weasel family (Mustela Canadensis), found in Canada and the Northern United States; — called also the fisher. It grows to the length of from three to four feet.Pe-kē'ȧ, n. p. 963(Bot.) A genus of South American plants, one species of which (P. tuberculosa) yields the sawarra nuts of commerce. Baird.Pē'kōe or Pĕk'ōe, n. p. 963A kind of black tea, said to be scented with a shrub called pekoe. [Written also pecco.]Pĕl'aġe, n. p. 963The vesture or covering of wild beasts, consisting of hair, fur, or wool. [Obs.] Bacon.Pe-lā'ġi-an, a. p. 963Pertaining to the sea, or deep sea; as, pelagian shells.Pe-lā'ġi-an, n. p. 963(Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Pelagius, a monk of Banchor, or Bangor, in Britain, who lived in the fourth century, and who denied the received doctrines in respect to original sin, free will, grace…Pe-lā'ġi-an, a. p. 963Pertaining to Pelagius and his doctrines.Pe-lā'ġi-an-ism, n. p. 963The doctrines of Pelagius.Pe-lăg'ic, a. p. 963Pertaining to the sea; pelagian.Pĕl'ar-gō'ni-ŭm, n. p. 963(Bot.) A genus of ornamental plants allied to the geranium; stork's-bill.Pĕl'e-can, n. p. 963See PELICAN.Pĕl'e-coid, n. p. 963(Geom.) A figure, somewhat hatchet-shaped, bounded by a semicircle and two inverted quadrants, and equal in area to the square A B C D inclosed by the chords of the four quadrants. [Written also…Pĕl'e-grīne, a. p. 963Peregrine. See PEREGRINE. [Obs.]Pĕl'e-rīne, n. p. 963A lady’s long cape, with ends coming down before.Pĕlf, n. p. 963Money; riches; lure; gain; wealth; mammon; — generally conveying the idea of something ill gotten or worthless. It has no plural. “That they should not look to the paltry pelf of the moment.” Burke.…Pēl'fray or Pēl'fry, n. p. 963The same as PELF. [Obs.]Pēl'ī-can, n. p. 963(Ornith.) A web-footed water-fowl of the genus Pelecanus, larger than the swan, and remarkable for its enormous bill, to the lower edge of which is attached a pouch, capable of holding many quarts of…Pēl'i-coid, n. p. 963See PELECOID.Pē'li-om, n. p. 963(Min.) A variety of iolite, of a smoky-blue color. [Written also pelioma.] Dana.Pēl'i-ō'mā, n. p. 963(Med.) A livid spot upon the skin. Dunglison. 2. (Min.) The same as PELIOM, q. v.Pe-lisse', n. p. 963A heavy-wadded robe or coat, often furred. [Obs.] 2. A silk robe or habit worn by ladies.Pĕll, n. p. 963A skin or hide. 2. A roll of parchment. Clerk of the pelts, an officer of the exchequer, who enters every teller's bill on the parchment rolls, the roll of receipts, and the roll of disbursements.…Pĕll, v. t. p. 963To pelt; to knock about. [Obs.] Holland.Pĕl'lage, n. p. 963Duty paid on skins of leather.Pel-lā'grā, n. p. 963(Med.) A scaly affection of the skin, with severe constitutional symptoms, which is endemic in Northern Italy. It attacks the parts exposed to the air and sun.Pĕl'let, n. p. 963A little ball; as, a pellet of wax or lint. 2. A bullet; a ball for fire-arms. [Obs.] Bacon.Pĕl'let-ed, a. p. 963Made of, or like, pellets; furnished with pellets; pelted, as with bullets. Shak.Pĕl'li-cle, n. p. 963A thin skin or film. 2. (Chem.) A thin, saline crust formed on the surface of a solution of salt evaporated to a certain degree, and consisting of minute crystals. Brande.Pel-lĭc'ū-lar, a. p. 963Pertaining to a pellicle. Henslow.Pĕl'li-to-ry, n. p. 963(Bot.) A plant of several genera, sometimes used in medicine. The pellitory of the wall, or common pellitory, is of the genus Parietaria; the bastard pellitory, of the genus Achillea; and the…Pēlī-mēlī', n. p. 963See PALL-MALL.Pĕll-mĕll', adv. p. 963In utter confusion; with disorderly mixture; with confused violence. The battle was a confused heap, the ground unequal, men, horses, chariots crowded pell-mell. Milton.Pel·lū'cid, a. p. 964Admitting the passage of light; translucent; not opaque; clear. A pellucid is distinguished from a transparent body in not giving distinct vision of illuminated objects seen through it. But in our…Pĕl/lu-cĭd/i-ty or Pel-lū'cid-ness, n. p. 964The quality of being pellucid; partial or imperfect transparency; as, the pellucidity of the air; the pellucidness of a gem. Locke.Pel-lū'cid-ly, adv. p. 964Transparently; clearly.Pĕl'o-pon-nē'sian, a. p. 964(Geog.) Pertaining to the Peloponnesus, or the southern peninsula of Greece.Pĕl'o-pon-nē'sian, n. p. 964(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of the Peloponnesus.Pĕl'o-tāge, n. p. 964Packs or bales of Spanish wool. Simmonds.Pĕlt, n. p. 964The skin of a beast with the hair on; an undressed hide; a skin preserved with the hairy or woolly covering on it. 2. The quarry of a hawk all torn. Ainsworth. Pelt-rot, a disease which affects the…Pēlt, v. t. p. 964To strike with something thrown; to belabor with pellets or missiles; as, to pelt with stones; pelted with hail. The chiding billows seem to pelt the clouds. Shak. 2. To use as a missile. My Phillis…Pēlt, n. p. 964A blow or stroke from something thrown.Pĕl'ta, n. p. 964(Antiq.) A small shield of wicker or wood, covered with leather, and usually of an elliptic form, or crescent-shaped. Fairholt. 2. (Bot.) A flat apothecium having no rim. Henslow.Pĕl'tate or Pĕl'tā-ted, a. p. 964(Bot.) Having the stem or support attached near the center below, or at a distance from, the margin; shield-like;—said of a leaf or other organ.