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.
Poi'son-hēm'lock, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A poisonous herbaceous plant of the genus Conium (C. maculatum).Poi'son-ī'vy, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A poisonous trailing plant of the genus Rhus (R. toxicodendron);—called also poison-oak. Gray.Poi'son-nūt, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A tree found on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts, the seeds of which contain a deadly poison; Strychnos nux-vomica.Poi'son-ōak, n. p. 1005(Bot.) See POISON-IVY.Poi'son-ous, a. p. 1005Having the qualities of poison; corrupting; impairing soundness or purity. “The poisonous damp of night.” Shak.Poĭ'son-ōŭs-ly, adv. p. 1005With fatal or injurious effects.Poī'son-ous-ness, n. p. 1005The quality of being fatal or injurious to health and soundness.Poī'son-sōme, a. p. 1005Poisonous. [Obs.] “Poison-some honey.” Holland.Poi'son-sū'mac, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A poisonous shrub of the genus Rhus (R. venenata);—sometimes improperly called poison-elder. [Written also poison-sumach.] Gray.Poī'son-tree, n. p. 1005A tree that poisons:—a name applied to a great number of trees of different genera possessing poisonous qualities.Poi'trel, n. p. 1005Armor for the breast of a horse. [Obs.] Skinner. 2. A graving tool; a pointel. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Poitrine, n. p. 1005(Anc. Armor.) The breastplate worn by a knight; also, the overlapping scales or sheets of metal which covered the breast of a war-horse. Fairholt.Poīze, n. p. 1005The same as POISE. [Obs.] See POISE.Po-käl', n. p. 1005A tall drinking-cup. Fairholt.Pōke, n. p. 1005A pocket; a small bag. 2. A long, wide sleeve, formerly much worn. To buy a pig in a poke (that is, in a pocket), to buy a thing without seeing it, or knowing definitely its quality or value. “I will…Pōke, v. t. p. 1005To thrust against; to push against with any thing pointed; hence, to feel or search for with a long instrument. 2. To thrust at with the horns, as an ox. To poke fun, to make fun; to joke; to jest.…Pōke, v. i. p. 1005To grope, as in the dark. Prior. To poke at, to thrust the horns at.Pōke, n. p. 1005The act of poking or pushing; a thrust; as a poke in the ribs. 2. A lazy person; a dawdler; also, a stupid or uninteresting person. [U. S.] Bartlett. 3. A machine to prevent unruly beasts from…Pōke, v. t. p. 1005To put a poke on; as, to poke an ox.Pōke, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A North American herbaceous plant of the genus Phytolacca (P. decandra), bearing dark-purple, juicy berries; — called also cocum, garget, pigeon-berry, pocan, and poke-weed. The root has…Pōke'-bŏn'net, n. p. 1005A bonnet of a long, straight, projecting form. [U. S.] Bartlett.Pōk'er, n. p. 1005One who pokes. 2. That which pokes, or is used in poking, especially an iron bar, used in stirring or opening a fire of coals. 3. (Naut.) An iron tool used in driving hoops on masts. Craig.Pōk'er, n. p. 1005A favorite game of cards in the Southern States. [U. S.] Bartlett.Pōk'er, n. p. 1005Any frightful object, especially one dimly seen in the dark; a bugbear. [Low.]Pōk'er-ish, a. p. 1005Calculated to excite fear; occasioning fright or unreasonable fear; abounding in frightful objects; as, a pokerish place. [U. S.] Bartlett.Pōk'er-pict'ūre, n. p. 1005A picture formed in imitation of bister-washed drawings, by singeing the surface of white wood with a heated poker or other iron. Fairholt.Pōke'-weed, n. p. 1005A plant. See POKE.Pōk'ing, a. p. 1005Drudging; servile. [Colloq.] Gray.Pōk'ing-stick, n. p. 1005A small stick or rod of steel, formerly used in adjusting the plaits of ruffs. Shak.Pōk'y, a. p. 1005Dull; stupid. [Colloq.] Bartlett.Po-lăc'eā, n. p. 1005(Naut.) A vessel with three masts, used in the Mediterranean. The masts are usually of one piece, so that they have neither tops, caps, nor cross-trees, nor horses to their upper yards. 2. (Mus.) A…Pō'lack, n. p. 1005(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Polander. [Obs.]Po-lā'ere, n. p. 1005See POLACCA.Pō'land-er, n. p. 1005(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Pole.Pō'lar, a. p. 1005Pertaining to, surrounding, or proceeding from one of the poles of the earth, or the poles of artificial globes; situated near one of the poles; as, polar regions; polar seas; polar winds. 2.…Pŏl'ar-chy, n. p. 1006Government by a number of persons; polyarchy.Po-lār'ic, a. p. 1006The same as POLAR. [Rare.]Pō'lar-ĭm'e-ter, n. p. 1006(Physics.) An instrument for determining the polarization of light; a polariscope.Pō'lar-ĭm'e-try, n. p. 1006The art or process of measuring the polarization of light.Pō-lā'ris, n. p. 1006(Astron.) The pole-star.Po-lār'i-scōpe, n. p. 1006(Opt.) An instrument consisting essentially of a polarizer and an analyzer, used for polarizing light, and analyzing its properties.Pō'lar-is'tic, a. p. 1006Pertaining to or exhibiting poles; having a polar arrangement or disposition; arising from, or dependent upon, the possession of poles or polar characteristics; as, polaristic antagonism.Po-lār'i-ty, n. p. 1006(Physics.) That quality or condition of a body in virtue of which it exhibits opposite or contrasted properties or powers, in opposite or contrasted parts or directions; or a condition giving rise to…Pō'lar-īz'a-ble, a. p. 1006Susceptible of polarization.Pō'lar-ĭ-zā'tion, n. p. 1006The act of polarizing; the state of being polarized, or of having polarity. Angle of polarization. Circular polarization. Elliptic polarization. Plane of polarization. Plane polarization.…Pō'lar-īze, v. t. p. 1006To communicate polarity to.Pō'lar-īz'er, n. p. 1006That which polarizes; especially, the part of a polariscope which receives and polarizes the light. It is usually a reflecting plate, as a plate of some crystal, as tourmaline, or a doubly-refracting…Pō'lar-y, a. p. 1006Tending to a pole; having a direction to a pole. [Rare.] Browne.Pōl'der, n. p. 1006A tract of low land reclaimed from the sea by means of high embankments; also, a tract of marshy or wet land. [Holland and Belgium.]Pōld'wāy, n. p. 1006A kind of coarse sacking for coal-sacks and the like. Weale.Pōle, n. p. 1006A long, slender piece of wood, or the stem of a small tree deprived of its branches; — often used in composition; as, (a.) A carriage-pole; that is, a pole which separates two draft-horses, and to…Pōle, n. p. 1006One of the extremities of an axis, on which a sphere revolves. 2. Especially, one of the extremities of the earth’s axis. 3. (Spherics.) A point on the surface of a sphere equally distant from every…Pōle, n. p. 1006(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Polander.Pōle, v. t. p. 1006To furnish with poles for support; as, to pole beans. 2. To bear or convey on poles; as, to pole hay into a barn. 3. To impel by poles, as a boat; to push forward by the use of poles.Pōle'āx or Pōle'āxe, n. p. 1006An ax fixed to a pole or handle; or, rather, a sort of hatchet with a handle about fifteen inches in length, and often a point or claw bending downward, or projecting from the back of its head. It…Pōle'căt, n. p. 1006(Zoöl.) A carnivorous mammal (Mustela putorius), allied to the weasel, which exhales a disagreeable odor; the fitchew or fitchet. The AmericanPōle'da-vy, n. p. 1006A sort of coarse canvas; hence, any coarse wares. [Obs.] You must be content with such homely poledavy ware from me. Howell.Pōle'-ē'vil, n. p. 1006The same as POLL-EVIL.Pōle'-lāthe, n. p. 1006A simple form of lathe, or a substitute for a lathe, in which the work is turned by means of a cord passing around it, one end being fastened to the treadle, and the other to an elastic pole above.Pōl'e-mārch, n. p. 1006(Gr. Antiq.) In Athens, originally, the military commander-in-chief; but, afterward, a civil magistrate who had under his care all strangers and sojourners in the city. There were also in Sparta…