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.
Pĭs'ca-ry, n. p. 991(Law.) Right or privilege of fishing in another man's waters. Blackstone.Pis-cā'tion, n. p. 991The act or practice of fishing. [Obs.] Browne.Pis'ca-tō'ri-al or Pis'ca-to-ry, a. p. 991Relating to fishes or to fishing; as, a piscatory eclogue. Addison.Pis'cēs, n. pl. p. 991(Astron.) The Fishes, the twelfth sign of the zodiac.Pis'ci-cäp'ture, n. p. 991The capture of fishes; angling. W. H. Russell.Pis'çi-cŭlt/ūre, n. p. 991The artificial method of promoting the propagation and nurture of fish.Pĭs'çi-cŭlt'ūr-ĭst, n. p. 991One who rears young fish.Pis'çi-fōrm, a. p. 991Having the form of a fish; resembling a fish.Pis-cĭ'nā, n. p. 991(Arch.) A niche on the south side of the altar in Roman Catholic churches, containing a small basin and water-drain through which the priest empties the water in which the chalice has been rinsed.…Pĭs'çi-nal or Pis-çi'nal, a. p. 991Belonging to a fish-pond.Pis'çine, a. p. 991Pertaining to fish or fishes; as, piscine remains.Pis-ci'v'o-roŭs, a. p. 991Feeding or subsisting on fishes.Pisé, n. p. 991(Arch.) A species of wall made of stiff earth or clay rammed in between molds as it is carried up. Gwilt.Pĭsh, interj. p. 991Pshaw;—an exclamation of contempt.Pĭsh, v. i. p. 991To express contempt. Pope.Pī'si-fôrm, a. p. 991Having the form, and nearly the size, of a pea. “Masses of pisiform argillaceous iron ore.” Kirwan.Pis'mīre, n. p. 991(Entom.) An insect of the genus Formica; the ant or emmet.Pī'so-līte, n. p. 991(Min.) A calcareous stone, made up of globular concretions of about the size of a pea; — called also peastone. ☞ Oölite is similar in structure, but the concretions are as small as the roe of a fish.…Pī'so-līt'ic, a. p. 991(Min.) Resembling in structure peas agglutinated. Mantell.Pis'o-phālt, n. p. 991(Min.) Pissasphalt. [Obs.] See PISSASPHALT.Piss, v. i. p. 991To discharge the urine; to make water; to urinate.Piss, n. p. 991The liquor secreted by the kidneys into the bladder of an animal, and discharged through the urethra; urine.Piss'a-bĕd, n. p. 991A small plant having a white or bluish flower, and growing among grass; Houstonia cærulea of Linnæus; — sometimes, also, applied to the dandelion. [Low.] Loudon.Pis'sas-phălt, n. p. 991(Min.) Earth-pitch; a soft bitumen of the consistence of tar, black, and of a strong smell. It is inflammable, and intermediate between petroleum and asphalt, and appears to be a combination of…Piss'būrnt, a. p. 991Stained with urine.Pis'so-phāne, n. p. 991(Min.) A green mineral chiefly consisting of the hydrous sulphate of alumina and iron.Pist, n. p. 991The same as PISTE, q. v.Pis-tā'chio, n. p. 991The nut of the Pistacia vera, a kind of turpentine-tree, containing a kernel of a pale greenish color, of a pleasant taste, resembling that of the almond; and yielding a well-tasted oil;—called also…Pis’ta-cite, n. p. 991(Min.) Epidote. See EPIDOTE. [Written also pistacite.]Pis'ta-reen', n. p. 991A silver coin of the value of 17 or 18 cents, or 9d. sterling.Pis'ta-zite, n. p. 991(Min.) See PISTACITE.Piste, n. p. 991(Man.) The track or footprint of a horse on the ground he goes over. Johnson.Pis'tic, a. p. 991Pure; genuine. [Obs.] “A box of nard pistic, salutary, and precious.” Bp. Taylor.Pis'til, n. p. 991(Bot.) A foliar organ terminating the axis of growth in a flower, and inclosing the seed. It consists of an ovary (a), inclosing the ovules; a style (b), its terminal elongation; and the stigma (c)…Pis'til-lā'ceous, a. p. 991Growing on the pistil of a flower; pertaining to, or having the nature of, a pistil. Barton.Pis'til-late, a. p. 991(Bot.) Having a pistil, and no stamens; as, a pistillate flower.Pis'til-lā'tion, n. p. 991The act of pounding in a mortar. [Obs.]Pis'til-lĭd'i-ŭm, n. p. 991(Bot.) An organ in the higher cryptogamia, having female sexual functions. Gray.Pis'til-lif'er-ōŭs, a. p. 991(Bot.) Having a pistil without stamens, as a female flower; pistillate.Pis'tle, n. p. 991An epistle; also, a short lecture, lesson, or exhortation. [Obs.]Pis'tol, n. p. 991A small fire-arm, or the smallest fire-arm used, intended to be fired from one hand, differing from a musket chiefly in size. Pistols were introduced into England in the year 1521. Pistol-carbine, a…Pis'tol, v. t. p. 991To shoot with a pistol. Who ever heard that to pistol a poacher was justifiable homicide? Sydney Smith.Pis'to-lāde', n. p. 991The discharge of a pistol; a pistol shot.Pis-tōle', n. p. 991A gold coin of Spain, worth about 16 shillings sterling, or $3.60 cents. In other countries it varies from $3 to $5.Pis'to-lĕt, n. p. 991A little pistol.Pis'ton, n. p. 991A short cylinder of metal or other solid substance, which fits exactly the cavity of a pump or barrel, and works up and down in it alternately. It is used in pumps and other engines or machines, for…Pis'ton-rŏd, n. p. 991The rod by which the piston is moved, as in a pump, or by which it communicates motion, as in the steam-engine.Pit, n. p. 991A large, deep hole in the ground; a well; a cavity in the earth, natural or artificial. 2. Hence, an abyss; especially, the bottomless pit; hell. Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained. Milton.…Pit, v. t. p. 991To indent; to press into hollows. 2. To mark with little hollows, as by various pustules; as, the face pitted by the small-pox. 3. To introduce as an antagonist to; to provoke to combat, as cocks in…Pĭ'tă, n. p. 991A fiber obtained from the Agave Americana, which makes strong and white cordage, and is also used in Mexico in the manufacture of paper. Simmonds.Pit'a-hā'yă, n. p. 991(Bot.) A shrub of tropical America, which yields a delicious fruit, the Cactus pitajaya of Jacquin, or Cereus Pitajaya of De Candolle.Pit'a-păt', adv. p. 991In a flutter; with palpitation or quick succession of beats; as, his heart went pit-a-pat.Pit'a-păt', n. p. 991A light, quick, often repeated sound, as of a footstep, the rain, and the like. Now I hear the pitapat of a pretty foot through the dark alley. Dryden.Pitch, n. p. 991A thick, black, sticky substance obtained by boiling down tar, used in calking ships, &c. They that touch pitch will be defiled. Shak. 2. Turpentine. [Improper.] 3. (Min.) An igneous rock of…Pitch, v. t. p. 991To cover over or smear with pitch. Rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. Gen. vi. 14. 2. To darken as if by smearing with pitch; to blacken; to obscure.Pitch, n. p. 991A point or peak; hence, any point or degree of elevation or depression; as, a high pitch; lowest pitch. “The lowest pitch of abject fortune.” Milton. How high a pitch his resolution soars! Shak.…Pitch, v. t. p. 992To throw, generally with a definite aim or purpose; to hurl; to toss. 2. To fix firmly; to plant; to set in array; as, to pitch a tent; to pitch a camp. 3. (Mus.) To fix or set the tone of; as, to…Pitch, v. i. p. 992To light; to settle; to come to rest from flight. Take a branch of the tree on which the bees pitch and wipe the hive. Mortimer. 2. To fall headlong; as, to pitch from a precipice; to pitch on the…Pitch'-black, a. p. 992Black as pitch.Pitch'blĕnde, n. p. 992(Min.) An ore of uranium, of a black or brownish color, and semi-metallic luster. It affords an orange color in painting. Dana.