Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pon-ton' or Pon-tōon', n. p. 1012A light frame-work or float, as of India-rubber cloth, or other material, easily transported, used in forming a bridge quickly for the passage of troops. 2. (Naut.) A low, flat vessel, resembling a…Pŏn'to-niēr' or Pŏn'ton-niēr', n. p. 1012A soldier having the charge of constructing bridges.Pŏnt'vo-lănt', n. p. 1012(Mil.) A kind of light bridge, used in sieges, for surprising a post or outwork which has but a narrow moat; a flying-bridge. Buchanan.Pō'ny, n. p. 1012A small horse. 2. The sum of twenty-five pounds sterling. [Slang. Eng.] Thackeray. 3. A translation of some author studied, or like help, by means of which a lesson may be quickly gone over. [College…Pony-engine p. 1012a locomotive used for switching cars from one track to another. [U. S.]Pōod, n. p. 1012A Russian weight, equal to 40 Russian or 36 English pounds avoirdupois.Pōō'dle, n. p. 1012A small dog covered with long, silky hair. Partington.Pōōh, interj. p. 1012Pshaw; pish; — an expression of scorn, dislike, or contempt.Pōōl, n. p. 1012A small and rather deep collection of fresh water supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream. Charity will hardly water the ground where it must first fill a pool. Bacon. 2. A small…Pōōl, n. p. 1012The stake played for in certain games of cards. [Written also poule.]Pōōl'-balls, n. p. 1012One of several ivory balls about two inches in diameter, used in playing a kind of billiards. Simmonds.Pōōl'er, n. p. 1012An instrument to stir a tan vat.Pōōl' snipe, n. p. 1012(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Totanus; the redshank.Pōon'-wood, n. p. 1012An East-Indian wood of a light porous texture, and light grayish cedar color, much prized for ship-building.Pōop, n. p. 1012A deck raised above the after part of the spar deck, reaching forward to the mizzen mast. Totten. 2. See POPPY.Poop, v. t. p. 1012(Naut.) (a.) To strike upon the stern of, as a heavy sea. “A sea which he thought was going to poop her.” Lord Dufferin. (b.) To strike in the stern, as one vessel that runs her stem against…Pōop, v. i. p. 1012To make a noise; to pop; also, to break wind.Pōoped, a. p. 1012(Naut.) Having a poop; furnished with a poop.Pōop'ing, n. p. 1012The shock of a heavy sea on the stern or quarter of a ship, when scudding in a tempest; also, the action of one ship's running her stem against another's stern.Pōor, a. p. 1012O. Eng. poore, povere, Norm. Fr. pour, pover, O. Fr. poure, povre, povere, N. Fr. pauvre, Pr. paure, paubre, paupre, Sp. & Pg. pobre, It. povero, Lat. pauper. 1. Destitute of property; wanting in…Pōōr'-bŏx, n. p. 1012A contribution-box for the poor.Pōōr'-house, n. p. 1012A public establishment for the support of the poor; an alms-house; a work-house.Pōōr'jŏhn, n. p. 1012A coarse kind of fish, salted and dried. Poorjohn and apple-pies are all our fare. Harington. The fish is also called hake, and was formerly proverbial as a cheap kind of fare.Pōōr'-laws, n. pl. p. 1012Laws providing for the support of the poor.Pōōr'li-ness, n. p. 1012The state or quality of being poorly; feebleness.Pōōr'ly, adv. p. 1012In a poor manner or condition; without wealth; as, to live poorly. 2. With little or no success; with little growth, profit, or advantage; as, these men have succeeded poorly in business. 3. Meanly…Poor'ly, a. p. 1012Somewhat ill; indisposed; not in health. [Colloq.] For three or four weeks past I have lost ground, having been poorly in health. T. Scott.Pōōr'ness, n. p. 1012The state or condition of being poor, in its various senses; want of property; indigence; poverty; want of good qualities; want of value or importance; want of success or satisfactionness; want…Pōōr'-rāte, n. p. 1012An assessment, or tax, for the relief or support of the poor.Pōōr'-spīr'it-ed, a. p. 1012Of a mean spirit; cowardly; base. Denham.Pōōr'-spir'it-ed-ness, n. p. 1012The state of being poor-spirited; meanness; baseness. South.Pōp, n. p. 1012A small, smart, quick sound or report. “A pop loud enough to be heard at the further end of a room.” Addison. 2. A beverage which issues with a pop, or slight explosion, from the bottle containing…Pŏp, v. i. p. 1012To make a pop, or sharp, quick sound; as, the corn will pop. 2. To enter, or issue forth, with a quick, sudden motion. I startled at his popping upon me unexpectedly. Addison. 3. To move from place…Pŏp, v. t. p. 1012To thrust or push suddenly; to bring suddenly to notice; as, to pop the question. He popped a paper into his hand. Milton. Didst thou never pop Thy head into a tinman's shop? Prior. 2. To cause to…Pŏp, adv. p. 1012With sudden entrance or appearance; suddenly.Pŏp'-cŏrn, n. p. 1012Corn, or maize, for popping; especially, a kind the grains of which are small and compact, well fitted for popping. 2. Corn which has been popped, or made by heat to burst suddenly, so as to expand…Pōpe, n. p. 1012The bishop of Rome, the head of the Roman Catholic church. 2. (Ichth.) A small fish of the perch family;—called also ruff. Walton.Pōpe'dŏm, n. p. 1012The place, office, or dignity of the pope; papal dignity. 2. The jurisdiction of the pope.Pōpe-jōan', n. p. 1012A game of cards in which a board, having five compartments, is used to hold the pool. The first of these compartments is called Pope Joan, whence the name of the game.Pōpe'ling, n. p. 1012An adherent of the pope. 2. A little or inferior pope.Pōp'er-y, n. p. 1012The religion of the Roman Catholic church, comprehending doctrines and practices. ☞ The appellation is considered offensive by Roman Catholics.Pōpe's'-ēye, n. p. 1012The gland surrounded with fat in the middle of the thigh.Pōpe's'-hĕad, n. p. 1012A large, round brush, with a long handle, for dusting ceilings. Halliwell.Pŏp’gŭn, n. p. 1012A child's gun, or tube and rammer, for shooting pellets, and making a noise by the expansion of compressed air.Pŏp'in-jāy, n. p. 1012A parrot. If a popinjay speak, she doth it by imitation of man's voice. Puttenham. 2. A mark in the form of a parrot, put on a pole to be shot at. Strutt. W. Scott. 3. A gay, trifling young man; a…Pŏp'ish, a. p. 1012Relating to the pope; taught by the pope; pertaining to the pope or the Roman Catholic church; as, popish tenets or ceremonies.Pōp'ish-ly, adv. p. 1012In a popish manner; with a tendency to popery; as, to be popishly affected or inclined.Pōp'lar, n. p. 1012(Bot.) A tree of the genus Populus, of several species, as the black poplar, the aspen-tree, &c. The species are all of rapid growth, with soft wood. The white poplar abele is P. alba, introduced…Pōp'lin, n. p. 1012A textile fabric made of silk and worsted, of many varieties, as watered, figured, brocaded, &c.Pop-lit'e-al or Pop-lit'ic, a. p. 1012Pertaining to the ham, or posterior part of the knee-joint. Brande.Pŏp'pet, n. p. 1012See PUP-PET. 2. (Naut.) One of certain upright timbers on the bilge-ways, used to support a vessel while being launched. Totten.Pŏp'ple, v. i. p. 1012To move quickly up and down, as a cork dropped on water. 2. To bubble up. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Pōp'ple, n. p. 1012The poplar. [Prov. Eng., and local U. S.]Pŏp'py, n. p. 1012(Bot.) A plant of the genus Papaver, of several species, from one of which (P. somniferum, or white poppy) opium is collected.Pŏp'py or Pŏp'py-hĕad, n. p. 1012(Arch.) An elevated ornament often used on the summit of bench-ends, desks, and other clerical wood-work, in the middle ages. It was sometimes a simple fleur-de-lis, sometimes a group of foliage, and…Pŏp'ū-lāce, n. p. 1012The common people; the vulgar; the multitude, comprehending all persons not distinguished by rank, education, office, or profession. Pope. Syn. — Mob; people; commonalty. See Mob.Pŏp'ŭ-la-cy, n. p. 1013The populace, or common people; the rabble. “His contempt of mobs and the populacy.” Coleridge.Pŏp'ŭ-lar, a. p. 1013Pertaining to the common people; as, the popular voice; popular elections. “So the popular vote inclines.” Milton. 2. Suitable to common people; easy to be comprehended; not critical or abstruse…Pŏp'ŭ-lār'i-ty, n. p. 1013The quality or state of being popular; especially, (a.) The state of being suitable to, or beloved by, the people. “A popularity which has lasted down to our time.” Macaulay. (b.) The state of being…Pŏp'ŭ-lār'i-zā'tion, n. p. 1013The act of making popular, or of introducing among a people.