The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1174
Point"ing , n. 1. The act of sharpening.
2. The act of designating, as a position or direction, by means of something pointed, as a finger or a rod.
3. The act or art of punctuating; punctuation.
4. The act of filling and finishing the joints in masonry with mortar, cement, etc.; also, the material so used.
5. The rubbing off of the point of the wheat grain in the first process of high milling.
6. (Sculpt.) The act or process of measuring, at the various distances from the surface of a block of marble, the surface of a future piece of statuary; also, a process used in cutting the statue from the artist's model.
Pointingstock <Xpage=106>
Point`ing*stock` (?) , n. An object of ridicule or scorn; a laughingstock.
Shak.
Pointless <Xpage=106>
Point"less , a. Having no point; blunt; wanting keenness; obtuse; as, a pointless sword; a pointless remark.
Syn. -- Blunt; obtuse, dull; stupid.
Pointlessly <Xpage=106>
Point"less*ly , adv. Without point.
Pointleted <Xpage=106>
Point"let*ed (?) , a. (Bot.) Having a small, distinct point; apiculate.
Henslow.
Pointrel <Xpage=106>
Poin"trel (?) , n. A graving tool.
Knight.
Pointsman <Xpage=106>
Points"man (?) , n. ; pl. -men (-m e n) . A man who has charge of railroad points or switches. [Eng.]
Poise <Xpage=106>
Poise (?) , n. [OE. pois , peis , OF. pois , peis , F. poids , fr. L. pensum a portion weighed out, pendere to weigh, weigh out. Cf. Avoirdupois , Pendant , Poise , v. ] [Formerly written also peise .] 1. Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness. "Weights of an extraordinary poise ."
Evelyn. <-- Obsolete? -->
2. The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.
3. The state of being balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest.
Bentley.
4. That which causes a balance; a counterweight.
Men of unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment. Dryden.
Poise <Xpage=106>
Poise (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Poised , (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Poising .] [OE. poisen , peisen , OF. & F. peser , to weigh, balance, OF. il peise , il poise , he weighs, F. il p\'8ase , fr. L. pensare , v. intens. fr. pendere to weigh. See Poise , n. , and cf. Pensive .] [Formerly written also peise .] 1. To balance; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance .
2. To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance.
Nor yet was earth suspended in the sky; Nor poised , did on her own foundation lie. Dryden.
3. To counterpoise; to counterbalance.
One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality. Shak.
To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit. Dryden.
4. To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.
He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence. South.
5. To weigh (down); to oppress. [Obs.]
Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow. Shak.
Poise <Xpage=106>
Poise , v. i. To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.
The slender, graceful spars Poise aloft in air. Longfellow.
Poiser <Xpage=106>
Pois"er (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The balancer of dipterous insects.
Poison <Xpage=106>
Poi"son (?) , n. [F. poison , in Old French also, a potion, fr. L. potio a drink, draught, potion, a poisonous draught, fr. potare to drink. See Potable , and cf. Potion .] 1. Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism, is capable of producing a morbid, noxious, or deadly effect upon it; as, morphine is a deadly poison ; the poison of pestilential diseases.
2. That which taints or destroys moral purity or health; as, the poison of evil example; the poison of sin.
Poison ash . (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus Amyris ( A. balsamifera ) found in the West Indies, from the trunk of which a black liquor distills, supposed to have poisonous qualities. (b) The poison sumac ( Rhus venenata ) . [U. S.] -- Poison dogwood (Bot.) , poison sumac. -- Poison fang (Zo\'94l.) , one of the superior maxillary teeth of some species of serpents, which, besides having the cavity for the pulp, is either perforated or grooved by a longitudinal canal, at the lower end of which the duct of the poison gland terminates. See Illust . under Fang . -- Poison gland (Biol.) , a gland, in animals or plants, which secretes an acrid or venomous matter, that is conveyed along an organ capable of inflicting a wound. -- Poison hemlock (Bot.) , a poisonous umbelliferous plant ( Conium maculatum ). See Hemlock . -- Poison ivy (Bot.) , a poisonous climbing plant ( Rhus Toxicodendron ) of North America. It is common on stone walls and on the trunks of trees, and has trifoliate, rhombic-ovate, variously notched leaves. Many people are poisoned by it, if they touch the leaves. See Poison sumac . Called also poison oak , and mercury . -- Poison nut . (Bot.) (a) Nux vomica . (b) The tree which yields this seed ( Strychnos Nuxvomica ). It is found on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts. -- Poison oak (Bot.) , the poison ivy; also, the more shrubby Rhus diversiloba of California and Oregon. Poison sac . (Zo\'94l.) Same as Poison gland , above. See Illust . under Fang . -- Poison sumac (Bot.) , a poisonous shrub of the genus Rhus ( R. venenata ); -- also called poison ash , poison dogwood , and poison elder . It has pinnate leaves on graceful and slender common petioles, and usually grows in swampy places. Both this plant and the poison ivy ( Rhus Toxicodendron ) have clusters of smooth greenish white berries, while the red-fruited species of this genus are harmless. The tree ( Rhus vernicifera ) which yields the celebrated Japan lacquer is almost identical with the poison sumac, and is also very poisonous. The juice of the poison sumac also forms a lacquer similar to that of Japan.
Syn. -- Venom; virus; bane; pest; malignity. -- Poison , Venom . Poison usually denotes something received into the system by the mouth, breath, etc. Venom is something discharged from animals and received by means of a wound, as by the bite or sting of serpents, scorpions, etc. Hence, venom specifically implies some malignity of nature or purpose.
Poison <Xpage=106>
Poi"son , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Poisoned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Poisoning .] [Cf. OF. poisonner , F. empoissoner , L. potionare to give to drink. See Poison , n. ]
1. To put poison upon or into; to infect with poison; as, to poison an arrow; to poison food or drink. "The ingredients of our poisoned chalice."
Shak.
2. To injure or kill by poison; to administer poison to.
If you poison us, do we not die ? Shak.
3. To taint; to corrupt; to vitiate; as, vice poisons happiness; slander poisoned his mind.
Whispering tongues can poison truth. Coleridge.
Poison <Xpage=106>
Poi"son , v. i. To act as, or convey, a poison.
Tooth that poisons if it bite. Shak.
Poisonable <Xpage=106>
Poi"son*a*ble (?) , a. 1. Capable of poisoning; poisonous. [Obs.] " Poisonable heresies."
Tooker.
2. Capable of being poisoned.
Poisoner <Xpage=106>
Poi"son*er (?) , n. One who poisons.
Shak.
Poisonous <Xpage=106>
Poi"son*ous (?) , a. Having the qualities or effects of poison; venomous; baneful; corrupting; noxious. Shak. -- Poi"son*ous*ly , adv. -- Poi"son*ous*ness , n.
Poisonsome <Xpage=106>
Poi"son*some (?) , a. Poisonous. [Obs.] Holland .
Poisure <Xpage=106>
Poi"sure (?) , n. [See Poise .] Weight. [Obs.]
Poitrel <Xpage=106>
Poi"trel (?) , n. [OE. poitrel , F. poitrail , fr. L. pectorale a breastplate, fr. pectoralis , a. See Pectoral , a. ] (Anc. Armor) The breastplate of the armor of a horse. See Peytrel . [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Poize <Xpage=106>
Poize (?) , n. See Poise . [Obs.]
Pokal <Xpage=106>
Po*kal" (?) , n. [G.] A tall drinking cup.
Poke <Xpage=106>
Poke (?) , n. (Bot.) A large North American herb of the genus Phytolacca ( P. decandra ), bearing dark purple juicy berries; -- called also garget , pigeon berry , pocan , and pokeweed . The root and berries have emetic and purgative properties, and are used in medicine. The young shoots are sometimes eaten as a substitute for asparagus, and the berries are said to be used in Europe to color wine.
Poke <Xpage=106>
Poke , n. [AS. poca , poha , pohha ; akin to Icel. poki , OD. poke , and perh. to E. pock ; cf. also Gael. poca , and OF. poque . Cf. Pock , Pocket , Pouch .] 1. A bag; a sack; a pocket. "He drew a dial from his poke ."
Shak.
They wallowed as pigs in a poke . Chaucer.
2. A long, wide sleeve; -- called also poke sleeve .
To boy a pig a poke (that is, in a bag), to buy a thing without knowledge or examination of it.
Camden.
Poke <Xpage=106>
Poke , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Poked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Poking .] [Cf. LG. poken to prick, pierce, thrust, pok a dagger, knife, D. pook , G. pocken to beat, also Ir. poc a blow, Gael. puc to push.] 1. To thrust or push against or into with anything pointed; hence, to stir up; to excite; as, to poke a fire .
He poked John, and said "Sleepest thou ?" Chaucer.
2. To thrust with the horns; to gore.
3. [From 5th Poke , 3.] To put a poke on; as, to poke an ox . [Colloq. U. S.]
To poke fun , to excite fun; to joke; to jest. [Colloq.] -- To poke fun at , to make a butt of; to ridicule. [Colloq.]
Poke <Xpage=106>
Poke , v. i. To search; to feel one's way, as in the dark; to grope; as, to poke about .
A man must have poked into Latin and Greek. Prior.
Poke <Xpage=106>
Poke , n. 1. The act of poking; a thrust; a jog; as, a poke in the ribs .
Ld. Lytton.
2. A lazy person; a dawdler; also, a stupid or uninteresting person. [Slang, U.S.]
Bartlett.
3. A contrivance to prevent an animal from leaping or breaking through fences. It consists of a yoke with a pole inserted, pointed forward. [U.S.]
Poke bonnet , a bonnet with a straight, projecting front.
Pokebag <Xpage=106>
Poke"bag` (?) , n. [So called in allusion to its baglike nest.] (Zo\'94l.) The European long-tailed titmouse; -- called also poke-pudding . [Prov. Eng.]
Poker <Xpage=106>
Pok"er (?) , n. [From Poke to push.] 1. One who pokes.
2. That which pokes or is used in poking, especially a metal bar or rod used in stirring a fire of coals.
3. A poking-stick.
Decker.
4. (Zo\'94l.) The poachard. [Prov. Eng.]
Poker picture , a picture formed in imitation of bisterwashed drawings, by singeing the surface of wood with a heated poker or other iron. <-- wood burning? -->
Fairholt.
Poker <Xpage=106>
Pok"er , n. [Of uncertain etymol.] A game at cards derived from brag, and first played about 1835 in the Southwestern United States.
Johnson's Cyc. <-- A poker hand is played with a poker deck, composed of fifty-two cards, of thirteeen values, each card value being represented once in each of four "suits", namely spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. The game is played in many variations, but almost invariably the stage of decision as to who wins occurs when each player has five cards (or chooses five cards from some larger number available to him). The winner usually is the player with the highest-valued hand, but, in some variations, the winner may be the player with the lowest-valued hand. The value of a hand is ranked by hand types, representing the relationships of the cards to each other. [The hand types are ranked by the probability of receiving such a hand when dealt five cards.] Within each hand type the value is also ranked by the values of the cards. The hand types are labeled, in decreasing value: five of a kind; royal flush; straight flush; four of a kind; full house (coll. full boat, or boat); flush; straight; three of a kind; two pairs; one pair; and, when the contending players have no hands of any of the above types, the player with the highest-valued card wins -- if there is a tie, the next-highest-valued card of the tied players determines the winner, and so on. If two players have the same type of hand, the value of the cards within each type determines the winner; thus, if two players both have three of a kind (and no other player has a higher type of hand), the player whose three matched cards have the highest card value is the winner. -->
Poker <Xpage=106>
Pok"er , n. [Cf. Dan. pokker the deuce, devil, also W. pwci , a hobgoblin, bugbear, and E. puck .] Any imagined frightful object, especially one supposed to haunt the darkness; a bugbear. [Colloq. U. S.]
Pokerish <Xpage=106>
Pok"er*ish , a. Infested by pokers; adapted to excite fear; as, a pokerish place . [Colloq. U. S.]
There is something pokerish about a deserted dwelling. Lowell.
Pokerish <Xpage=106>
Pok"er*ish , a. Stiff like a poker. [Colloq.]
Poket <Xpage=106>
Pok"et (?) , n. A pocket. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Pokeweed <Xpage=106>
Poke"weed` (?) , n. (Bot.) See Poke , the plant.
Pokey <Xpage=106>
Pok"ey (?) , a. See Poky .
Poking <Xpage=106>
Pok"ing (?) , a. Drudging; servile. [Colloq.]
Bred to some poking profession. Gray.
Poking-stick <Xpage=106>
Pok"ing-stick` (?) , n. A small stick or rod of steel, formerly used in adjusting the plaits of ruffs.
Shak.
Poky <Xpage=106>
Pok"y (?) , a. [Written also pokey .] 1. Confined; cramped. [Prov. Eng.]
2. Dull; tedious; uninteresting. [Colloq.]
Polacca <Xpage=106>
Po*lac"ca (?) , n. [It. polacca , polaccra , polacra ; cf. F. polaque , polacre , Sp. polacre ,] [Written also polacre .] 1. (Naut.) A vessel with two or three masts, used in the Mediterranean. The masts are usually of one piece, and without tops, caps, or crosstrees.
2. (Mus.) See Polonaise .
Polack <Xpage=106>
Po"lack (?) , n. A Polander.
Shak.
Polacre <Xpage=106>
Po*la"cre (?) , n. Same as Polacca , 1 .
Polander <Xpage=106>
Po"land*er (?) , n. A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Pole.
Polar <Xpage=106>
Po"lar (?) , a. [Cf. F. polaire . See Pole of the earth.] 1. Of or pertaining to one of the poles of the earth, or of a sphere; situated near, or proceeding from, one of the poles; as, polar regions; polar seas; polar winds.
2. Of or pertaining to the magnetic pole, or to the point to which the magnetic needle is directed.
3. (Geom.) Pertaining to, reckoned from, or having a common radiating point; as, polar co\'94rdinates .
Polar axis , that axis of an astronomical instrument, as an equatorial, which is parallel to the earths axis. -- Polar bear (Zo\'94l.) , a large bear ( Ursus, ∨ Thalarctos, maritimus ) inhabiting the arctic regions. It sometimes measures nearly nine feet in length and weighs 1,600 pounds. It is partially amphibious, very powerful, and the most carnivorous of all the bears. The fur is white, tinged with yellow. Called also White bear . See Bear . -- Polar body , cell , ∨ globule (Biol.) , a minute cell which separates by karyokinesis from the ovum during its maturation. In the maturation of ordinary ova two polar bodies are formed, but in parthogenetic ova only one. The first polar body formed is usually larger than the second one, and often divides into two after its separation from the ovum. Each of the polar bodies removes maternal chromatin from the ovum to make room for the chromatin of the fertilizing spermatozo\'94n; but their functions are not fully understood. -- Polar circles (Astron. & Geog.) , two circles, each at a distance from a pole of the earth equal to the obliquity of the ecliptic, or about 23° 28\'b7, the northern called the arctic circle , and the southern the antarctic circle . -- Polar clock , a tube, containing a polarizing apparatus, turning on an axis parallel to that of the earth, and indicating the hour of the day on an hour circle, by being turned toward the plane of maximum polarization of the light of the sky, which is always 90° from the sun. -- Polar co\'94rdinates . See under 3d Co\'94rdinate . -- Polar dial , a dial whose plane is parallel to a great circle passing through the poles of the earth. Math. Dict. -- Polar distance , the angular distance of any point on a sphere from one of its poles, particularly of a heavenly body from the north pole of the heavens. -- Polar equation of a line ∨ surface , an equation which expresses the relation between the polar co\'94rdinates of every point of the line or surface. -- Polar forces (Physics) , forces that are developed and act in pairs, with opposite tendencies or properties in the two elements, as magnetism, electricity, etc. -- Polar hare (Zo\'94l.) , a large hare of Arctic America ( Lepus arcticus ), which turns pure white in winter. It is probably a variety of the common European hare ( L. timidus ). -- Polar lights , the aurora borealis or australis. -- Polar , ∨ Polaric , opposition ∨ contrast (Logic) , an opposition or contrast made by the existence of two opposite conceptions which are the extremes in a species, as white and black in colors; hence, as great an opposition or contrast as possible. -- Polar projection . See under Projection . -- Polar spherical triangle (Spherics) , a spherical triangle whose three angular points are poles of the sides of a given triangle. See 4th Pole , 2. -- Polar whale (Zo\'94l.) , the right whale, or bowhead. See Whale .
<-- p. 107 -->
Polar <Xpage=107>