Chapter 1157

Pir"ie , n. [See Pear .] (Bot.) A pear tree. [Written also pery , pyrie .] [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Piririgua <Xpage=1090>

Pi`ri*ri"gua (?) , n. [From the native name.] (Zo\'94l.) A South American bird ( Guira guira ) allied to the cuckoos.

Pirl <Xpage=1090>

Pirl (?) , v. t. [Cf. Purl .] 1. To spin, as a top.

2. To twist or twine, as hair in making fishing lines.

Pirn <Xpage=1090>

Pirn (?) , n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A quill or reed on which thread or yarn is wound; a bobbin; also, the wound yarn on a weaver's shuttle; also, the reel of a fishing rod. [Scot.]

Pirogue <Xpage=1090>

Pi*rogue" (?) , n. [Originally an American Indian word: cf. F. pirogue , Sp. piroga , piragua .] A dugout canoe; by extension, any small boat. [Written variously periauger , perogue , piragua , periagua , etc.]

Pirouette <Xpage=1090>

Pir`ou*ette" (?) , n. [F.; of uncertain origin.] 1. A whirling or turning on the toes in dancing.

2. (Man.) The whirling about of a horse.

Pirouette <Xpage=1090>

Pir`ou*ette" , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Pirouetted (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Pirouetting .] [F. pirouetter .] To perform a pirouette; to whirl, like a dancer.

Pirry, Pirrie <Xpage=1090>

Pir"ry , Pir"rie (?) , n. [Cf. Scot. pirr a gentle breeze, Icel. byrr a prosperous wind, bylr a blast of wind.] A rough gale of wind. [Obs.]

Sir T. Elyot.

Pisasphaltum <Xpage=1090>

Pis`as*phal"tum (?) , n. See Pissasphalt .

Pisay <Xpage=1090>

Pi"say (?) , n. (Arch.) See Pis\'82 .

Piscary <Xpage=1090>

Pis"ca*ry (?) , n. [L. piscarius relating to fishes or to fishing, fr. piscis a fish.] (Law) The right or privilege of fishing in another man's waters.

Blackstone.

Piscation <Xpage=1090>

Pis*ca"tion (?) , n. [L. piscatio , fr. piscari to fish.] Fishing; fishery. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Piscator <Xpage=1090>

Pis*ca"tor (?) , n. [L.] A fisherman; an angler.

Piscatorial, Piscatory <Xpage=1090>

Pis`ca*to"ri*al (?) , Pis"ca*to*ry (?) , a. [L. piscatorius , fr. piscator a fisherman, fr. piscari to fish, fr. piscis a fish. See Fish the animal.] Of or pertaining to fishes or fishing.

Addison.

Pisces <Xpage=1090>

Pis"ces (?) , n. pl. [L. piscis a fish.] 1. (Astron.) (a) The twelfth sign of the zodiac, marked &pisces; in almanacs. (b) A zodiacal constellation, including the first point of Aries, which is the vernal equinoctial point; the Fish.

2. (Zo\'94l.) The class of Vertebrata that includes the fishes. The principal divisions are Elasmobranchii, Ganoidei, and Teleostei.

Piscicapture <Xpage=1090>

Pis"ci*cap`ture (?) , n. Capture of fishes, as by angling. [R.]

W. H. Russell.

Piscicultural <Xpage=1090>

Pis`ci*cul"tur*al (?) , a. Relating to pisciculture.

Pisciculture <Xpage=1090>

Pis`ci*cul"ture (?) , n. [L. piscis a fish + E. culture .] Fish culture. See under Fish .

Pisciculturist <Xpage=1090>

Pis`ci*cul"tur*ist , n. One who breeds fish.

Pisciform <Xpage=1090>

Pis"ci*form (?) , a. [L. piscis fish + -form .] Having the form of a fish; resembling a fish.

Piscina <Xpage=1090>

Pis*ci"na (?) , n. [L., a certain, fishpond, fr. piscis a fish.] (Arch.) A niche near the altar in a church, containing a small basin for rinsing altar vessels.

Piscinal <Xpage=1090>

Pis"ci*nal (?) , a. [L. piscinalis : cf. F. piscinal .] Belonging to a fishpond or a piscina.

Piscine <Xpage=1090>

Pis"cine (?) , a. [L. piscis a fish.] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to a fish or fishes; as, piscine remains .

Piscivorous <Xpage=1090>

Pis*civ"o*rous (?) , a. [L. piscis a fish + vorare to devour: cf. F. piscivore .] (Zo\'94l.) Feeding or subsisting on fish.

Pis\'82 <Xpage=1090>

Pi`s\'82" (?) , n. [F. pis\'82 , from piser to stamp, pound, L. pisare .] (Arch.) A species of wall made of stiff earth or clay rammed in between molds which are carried up as the wall rises; -- called also pis\'82 work .

Gwilt.

Pish <Xpage=1090>

Pish (?) , interj. An exclamation of contempt.

Pish <Xpage=1090>

Pish (?) , v. i. To express contempt.

Pope.

Pishu <Xpage=1090>

Pi"shu (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The Canada lynx. [Written also peeshoo .]

Pisiform <Xpage=1090>

Pi"si*form (?) , a. [L. pisum a pea + -form : cf. F. pisiforme .] Resembling a pea or peas in size and shape; as, a pisiform iron ore .

Pisiform <Xpage=1090>

Pi"si*form , n. (Anat.) A small bone on the ulnar side of the carpus in man and many mammals. See Illust . of Artiodactyla .

Pismire <Xpage=1090>

Pis"mire (?) , n. [ Piss + mire ; so called because it discharges a moisture vulgarly considered urine. See Mire an ant.] (Zo\'94l.) An ant, or emmet.

Pisolite <Xpage=1090>

Pi"so*lite (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a pea + -lite : cf. F. pisolithe .] (Min.) A variety of calcite, or calcium carbonate, consisting of aggregated globular concretions about the size of a pea; -- called also peastone , peagrit .

&hand; O\'94lite is similar in structure, but the concretions are as small as the roe of a fish.

Pisolitic <Xpage=1090>

Pi`so*lit"ic (?) , a. [Cf. F. pisolithique .] (Min.) Composed of, containing, or resembling, pisolite.

Pisophalt <Xpage=1090>

Pis"o*phalt (?) , n. [For pissasphalt .] (Min.) Pissasphalt. [Obs.]

Piss <Xpage=1090>

Piss (?) , v. t. & i. [OE. pissen , F. pisser ; akin to It. pisciare , D. & G. pissen , Dan. pisse , Icel. pissa .] To discharge urine, to urinate.

Shak.

Piss <Xpage=1090>

Piss , n. Urine.

Pissabed <Xpage=1090>

Piss"a*bed` (?) , n. (Bot.) A name locally applied to various wild plants, as dandelion, bluet, oxeye daisy, etc.

Pissasphalt <Xpage=1090>

Pis"sas*phalt (?) , n. [L. pissasphaltus , Gr. <?/; <?/ pitch + <?/ asphalt: cf. F. pissasphalte .] (Min.) Earth pitch; a soft, black bitumen of the consistence of tar, and of a strong smell. It is inflammable, and intermediate between petroleum and asphalt. [Written also pisasphaltum , pisasphalt , etc.]

Pist <Xpage=1090>

Pist (?) , n. (man.) See Piste .

Pistachio <Xpage=1090>

Pis*ta"chio (?) , n. [It. pistacchio (cf. Sp. pistacho , F. pistache ), fr. L. pistacium , Gr. <?/, <?/, fr. Per. pistah . Cf. Fistinut .] (Bot.) The nut of the Pistacia vera , a tree of the order Anacardiace\'91 , containing a kernel of a pale greenish color, which has a pleasant taste, resembling that of the almond, and yields an oil of agreeable taste and odor; -- called also pistachio nut . It is wholesome and nutritive. The tree grows in Arabia, Persia, Syria, and Sicily. [Written also pistachia .]

Pistacia <Xpage=1090>

Pis*ta"ci*a (?) , n. [NL. See Pistachio .] (Bot.) The name of a genus of trees, including the tree which bears the pistachio, the Mediterranean mastic tree ( Pistacia Lentiscus ), and the species ( P. Terebinthus ) which yields Chian or Cyprus turpentine.

Pistacite <Xpage=1090>

Pis"ta*cite (?) , n. [Cf. F. pistacite . So called from its green color. See Pistachio .] (Min.) Epidote.

Pistareen <Xpage=1090>

Pis`ta*reen" (?) , n. An old Spanish silver coin of the value of about twenty cents.

Pistazite <Xpage=1090>

Pis"ta*zite (?) , n. (Min.) Same as Pistacite .

Piste <Xpage=1090>

Piste (?) , n. [F., fr. L. pisere , pinsere , pistum , to pound.] (Min.) The track or tread a horseman makes upon the ground he goes over.

Johnson.

Pistel, Pistil <Xpage=1090>

Pis"tel (?) , Pis"til (?) , n. An epistle. [Obs.]

Pistic <Xpage=1090>

Pis"tic (?) , a. [L. pisticus , Gr. <?/.] Pure; genuine. [R.]

Jer. Taylor.

Pistil <Xpage=1090>

Pis"til (?) , n. [L. pistillum , pistillus , a pestle: cf. F. pistil . See Pestle .] (Bot.) The seed-bearing organ of a flower. It consists of an ovary, containing the ovules or rudimentary seeds, and a stigma, which is commonly raised on an elongated portion called a style . When composed of one carpel a pistil is simple; when composed of several, it is compound. See Illust . of Flower , and Ovary .

Pistillaceous <Xpage=1090>

Pis`til*la"ceous (?) , a. (Bot.) Growing on, or having nature of, the pistil; of or pertaining to a pistil.

Barton.

Pistillate <Xpage=1090>

Pis"til*late (?) , a. (Bot.) Having a pistil or pistils; -- usually said of flowers having pistils but no stamens.

Pistillation <Xpage=1090>

Pis`til*la"tion (?) , n. [L. pistillum a pestle.] The act of pounding or breaking in a mortar; pestillation. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Pistillidium <Xpage=1090>

Pis`til*lid"i*um (?) , n. ; pl. Pistillida (#) . [NL., fr. E. pistil .] (Bot.) Same as Archegonium .

Pistilliferous <Xpage=1090>

Pis`til*lif"er*ous (?) , a. [ Pistil + -ferous : cf. F. pistillif\'8are .] (Bot.) Pistillate.

Pistillody <Xpage=1090>

Pis"til*lo*dy (?) , n. [ Pistil + Gr. <?/ form.] (Bot.) The metamorphosis of other organs into pistils.

Pistol <Xpage=1090>

Pis"tol (?) , n. [F. pistole , pistolet , It. pistola ; prob. from a form Pistola , for Pistoja , a town in Italy where pistols were first made. Cf. Pistole .] The smallest firearm used, intended to be fired from one hand, -- now of many patterns, and bearing a great variety of names. See Illust . of Revolver . <-- generically, also called handgun -->

Pistol carbine , a firearm with a removable but-piece, and thus capable of being used either as a pistol or a carbine. -- Pistol pipe (Metal.) , a pipe in which the blast for a furnace is heated, resembling a pistol in form. -- Pistol shot . (a) The discharge of a pistol . (b) The distance to which a pistol can propel a ball.

Pistol <Xpage=1090>

Pis"tol , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pistoled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Pistoling .] [Cf. F. pistoler .] To shoot with a pistol. "To pistol a poacher."

Sydney Smith.

Pistolade <Xpage=1090>

Pis"to*lade` (?) , n. [F.] A pistol shot.

Pistole <Xpage=1090>

Pis*tole" (?) , n. [F., probably a name given in jest in France to a Spanish coin. Cf. Pistol .] The name of certain gold coins of various values formerly coined in some countries of Europe. In Spain it was equivalent to a quarter doubloon, or about $3.90, and in Germany and Italy nearly the same. There was an old Italian pistole worth about $5.40.

Pistoleer <Xpage=1090>

Pis`to*leer" (?) , n. [Cf. F. pistolier .] One who uses a pistol. [R.]

Carlyle.

Pistolet <Xpage=1090>

Pis"to*let` (?) , n. [F., a dim. of pistole .] A small pistol.

Donne. Beau. & Fl.

<-- pistol-whip, to beat with a pistol -->

<page="1091"> Page 1091

Piston <Xpage=1091>

Pis"ton (?) , n. [F. piston ; cf. It. pistone piston, also pestone a large pestle; all fr. L. pinsere , pistum , to pound, to stamp. See Pestle , Pistil .] (Mach.) A sliding piece which either is moved by, or moves against, fluid pressure. It usually consists of a short cylinder fitting within a cylindrical vessel along which it moves, back and forth. It is used in steam engines to receive motion from the steam, and in pumps to transmit motion to a fluid; also for other purposes.

Piston head (Steam Eng.) , that part of a piston which is made fast to the piston rod. -- Piston rod , a rod by which a piston is moved, or by which it communicates motion. -- Piston valve (Steam Eng.) , a slide valve, consisting of a piston, or connected pistons, working in a cylindrical case which is provided with ports that are traversed by the valve.

Pit <Xpage=1091>

Pit (?) , n. [OE. pit , put , AS. pytt a pit, hole, L. puteus a well, pit.] 1. A large cavity or hole in the ground, either natural or artificial; a cavity in the surface of a body; an indentation ; specifically: (a) The shaft of a coal mine; a coal pit . (b) A large hole in the ground from which material is dug or quarried; as, a stone pit ; a gravel pit ; or in which material is made by burning; as, a lime pit ; a charcoal pit . (c) A vat sunk in the ground; as, a tan pit .

Tumble me into some loathsome pit . Shak.

2. Any abyss; especially, the grave, or hades.

Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained. Milton.

He keepth back his soul from the pit . Job xxxiii. 18.

3. A covered deep hole for entrapping wild beasts; a pitfall; hence, a trap; a snare. Also used figuratively.

The anointed of the Lord was taken in their pits . Lam. iv. 20.

4. A depression or hollow in the surface of the human body ; as: (a) The hollow place under the shoulder or arm; the axilla, or armpit . (b) See Pit of the stomach (below) . (c) The indentation or mark left by a pustule, as in smallpox.

5. Formerly, that part of a theater, on the floor of the house, below the level of the stage and behind the orchestra; now, in England, commonly the part behind the stalls; in the United States, the parquet; also, the occupants of such a part of a theater.

6. An inclosed area into which gamecocks, dogs, and other animals are brought to fight, or where dogs are trained to kill rats. "As fiercely as two gamecocks in the pit ."

Locke.

7. [Cf. D. pit , akin to E. pith .] (Bot.) (a) The endocarp of a drupe, and its contained seed or seeds; a stone; as, a peach pit ; a cherry pit , etc. (b) A depression or thin spot in the wall of a duct.

Cold pit (Hort.) , an excavation in the earth, lined with masonry or boards, and covered with glass, but not artificially heated, -- used in winter for the storing and protection of half-hardly plants, and sometimes in the spring as a forcing bed. -- Pit coal , coal dug from the earth; mineral coal. -- Pit frame , the framework over the shaft of a coal mine. -- Pit head , the surface of the ground at the mouth of a pit or mine. -- Pit kiln , an oven for coking coal. -- Pit martin (Zo\'94l.) , the bank swallow. [Prov. Eng.] -- Pit of the stomach (Anat.) , the depression on the middle line of the epigastric region of the abdomen at the lower end of the sternum; the infrasternal depression. -- Pit saw (Mech.) , a saw worked by two men, one of whom stands on the log and the other beneath it. The place of the latter is often in a pit, whence the name. -- Pit viper (Zo\'94l.) , any viperine snake having a deep pit on each side of the snout. The rattlesnake and copperhead are examples. -- Working pit (Min.) , a shaft in which the ore is hoisted and the workmen carried; -- in distinction from a shaft used for the pumps.

Pit <Xpage=1091>

Pit , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pitted (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Pitting .] 1. To place or put into a pit or hole.

They lived like beasts, and were pitted like beasts, tumbled into the grave. T. Grander.

2. To mark with little hollows, as by various pustules; as, a face pitted by smallpox .

3. To introduce as an antagonist; to set forward for or in a contest; as, to pit one dog against another .

Pita <Xpage=1091>

Pi"ta (?) , n. [Sp.] (Bot.) (a) A fiber obtained from the Agave Americana and other related species, -- used for making cordage and paper. Called also pita fiber , and pita thread . (b) The plant which yields the fiber.

<-- pita, pita bread. a thin flat bread that is formed in two layers, to make a pocket into which other foods may be placed. -->

Pitahaya <Xpage=1091>

Pit`a*ha"ya (?) , n. [Sp., prob. from the native name.] (Bot.) A cactaceous shrub ( Cereus Pitajaya ) of tropical America, which yields a delicious fruit.

Pitapat <Xpage=1091>

Pit"a*pat` (?) , adv. [An onomatopoetic reduplication of pat a light, quick blow.] In a flutter; with palpitation or quick succession of beats. Lowell . "The fox's heart went pitapat ." L'Estrange .

Pitapat <Xpage=1091>

Pit"a*pat` , n. A light, repeated sound; a pattering, as of the rain. "The pitapat of a pretty foot."

Dryden.

Pitch <Xpage=1091>

Pitch (?) , n. [OE. pich , AS. pic , L. pix ; akin to Gr. <?/.] 1. A thick, black, lustrous, and sticky substance obtained by boiling down tar. It is used in calking the seams of ships; also in coating rope, canvas, wood, ironwork, etc., to preserve them.

He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith. Ecclus. xiii. 1.

2. (Geol.) See Pitchstone .

Amboyna pitch , the resin of Dammara australis . See Kauri . -- Burgundy pitch . See under Burgundy . -- Canada pitch , the resinous exudation of the hemlock tree ( Abies Canadensis ); hemlock gum. -- Jew's pitch , bitumen. -- Mineral pitch . See Bitumen and Asphalt . -- Pitch coal (Min.) , bituminous coal. -- Pitch peat (Min.) , a black homogeneous peat, with a waxy luster. -- Pitch pine (Bot.) , any one of several species of pine, yielding pitch, esp. the Pinus rigida of North America.

Pitch <Xpage=1091>