Chapter 52

2. (Spherics) A point upon the surface of a sphere equally distant from every part of the circumference of a great circle; or the point in which a diameter of the sphere perpendicular to the plane of such circle meets the surface. Such a point is called the pole of that circle; as, the pole of the horizon; the pole of the ecliptic; the pole of a given meridian.

3. (Physics) One of the opposite or contrasted parts or directions in which a polar force is manifested; a point of maximum intensity of a force which has two such points, or which has polarity; as, the poles of a magnet; the north pole of a needle.

4. The firmament; the sky. [Poetic]

Shoots against the dusky pole.

Milton.

5. (Geom.) See Polarity, and Polar, n.

Magnetic pole. See under Magnetic. -- Poles of the earth, or Terrestrial poles (Geog.), the two opposite points on the earth's surface through which its axis passes. -- Poles of the heavens, or Celestial poles, the two opposite points in the celestial sphere which coincide with the earth's axis produced, and about which the heavens appear to revolve.

{ Pole"ax`, Pole"axe` } (?), n. [OE. pollax; cf. OD. pollexe. See Poll head, and Ax.] Anciently, a kind of battle-ax with a long handle; later, an ax or hatchet with a short handle, and a head variously patterned; -- used by soldiers, and also by sailors in boarding a vessel.

Pole"cat` (?), n. [Probably fr. F. poule hen, and originally, a poultry cat, because it feeds on poultry. See Poultry.] (Zoˆl.) (a) A small European carnivore of the Weasel family (Putorius fútidus). Its scent glands secrete a substance of an exceedingly disagreeable odor. Called also fitchet, foulmart, and European ferret. (b) The zorilla. The name is also applied to other allied species.

Pole"da`vy (?), n. [Etymology uncertain.] A sort of coarse canvas; poldway. [Obs.] Howell.

Pole"less, a. Without a pole; as, a poleless chariot.

Pol"e*march (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; war + &?; leader, from &?; to be first.] (Gr. Antiq.) In Athens, originally, the military commanderin-chief; but, afterward, a civil magistrate who had jurisdiction in respect of strangers and sojourners. In other Grecian cities, a high military and civil officer.

Po*lem"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; warlike, fr.&?; war: cf. F. polÈmique.] 1. Of or pertaining to controversy; maintaining, or involving, controversy; controversial; disputative; as, a polemic discourse or essay; polemic theology.

2. Engaged in, or addicted to, polemics, or to controversy; disputations; as, a polemic writer. South.

Po*lem"ic, n. 1. One who writes in support of one opinion, doctrine, or system, in opposition to another; one skilled in polemics; a controversialist; a disputant.

The sarcasms and invectives of the young polemic.

Macaulay.

2. A polemic argument or controversy.

Po*lem"ic*al (?), a. Polemic; controversial; disputatious. -- Po*lem"ic*al*ly, adv.

Polemical and impertinent disputations.

Jer. Taylor.

Po*lem"i*cist (?), n. A polemic. [R.]

Po*lem"ics (?), n. [Cf. F. polÈmique.] The art or practice of disputation or controversy, especially on religious subjects; that branch of theological science which pertains to the history or conduct of ecclesiastical controversy.

Pol"e*mist (?), n. A polemic. [R.]

Pol`e*mo`ni*a"ceous (?), a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants (PolemoniaceÊ), which includes Polemonium, Phlox, Gilia, and a few other genera.

||Pol`e*mo"ni*um (?). n. [NL., fr. Gr.&?; a kind of plant.] (Bot.) A ||genus of gamopetalous perennial herbs, including the Jacob's ladder ||and the Greek valerian.

Po*lem"o*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?; war + -scope: cf. F. polÈmoscope.] An opera glass or field glass with an oblique mirror arranged for seeing objects do not lie directly before the eye; -- called also diagonal, or side, opera glass.

Pol"e*my (?), n. [See Polemic.] Warfare; war; hence, contention; opposition. [Obs.]

||Po*len"ta (?), n. [It., fr. L. polenta peeled barley.] Pudding made ||of Indian meal; also, porridge made of chestnut meal. [Italy]

Pol"er (?), n. One who poles.

Pol"er, n. An extortioner. See Poller. [Obs.] Bacon.

Pole"star` (?), n. 1. Polaris, or the north star. See North star, under North.

2. A guide or director.

Pole"wards (?), adv. Toward a pole of the earth. "The regions further polewards." Whewell.

Pole"wig (?), n. [Cf. Polliwig.] (Zoˆl.) The European spotted goby (Gobius minutus); -- called also pollybait. [Prov. Eng.]

Po"ley (?), n. (Bot.) See Poly.

Po"ley, a. Without horns; polled. [Prov. Eng.] "That poley heifer." H. Kingsley.

Po"li*a*nite (?), n. [Gr. &?; to become gray.] (Min.) Manganese dioxide, occurring in tetragonal crystals nearly as hard as quartz.

Pol"i*cate (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Same as Pollicate.

Po*lice" (?), n. [F., fr. L. politia the condition of a state, government, administration, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to be a citizen, to govern or administer a state, fr. &?; citizen, fr. &?; city; akin to Skr. pur, puri. Cf. Policy polity, Polity.] 1. A judicial and executive system, for the government of a city, town, or district, for the preservation of rights, order, cleanliness, health, etc., and for the enforcement of the laws and prevention of crime; the administration of the laws and regulations of a city, incorporated town, or borough.

2. That which concerns the order of the community; the internal regulation of a state.

3. The organized body of civil officers in a city, town, or district, whose particular duties are the preservation of good order, the prevention and detection of crime, and the enforcement of the laws.

4. (Mil.) Military police, the body of soldiers detailed to preserve civil order and attend to sanitary arrangements in a camp or garrison.

5. The cleaning of a camp or garrison, or the state &?; a camp as to cleanliness.

Police commissioner, a civil officer, usually one of a board, commissioned to regulate and control the appointment, duties, and discipline of the police. -- Police constable, or Police officer, a policeman. -- Police court, a minor court to try persons brought before it by the police. -- Police inspector, an officer of police ranking next below a superintendent. -- Police jury, a body of officers who collectively exercise jurisdiction in certain cases of police, as levying taxes, etc.; -- so called in Louisiana. Bouvier. -- Police justice, or Police magistrate, a judge of a police court. -- Police offenses (Law), minor offenses against the order of the community, of which a police court may have final jurisdiction. -- Police station, the headquarters of the police, or of a section of them; the place where the police assemble for orders, and to which they take arrested persons.

Po*lice", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Policed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Policing.] 1. To keep in order by police.

2. (Mil.) To make clean; as, to police a camp.

Po*liced" (?), a. Regulated by laws for the maintenance of peace and order, enforced by organized administration. "A policed kingdom." Howell.

Po*lice"man (?), n.; pl. Policemen (&?;). A member of a body of police; a constable.

Po*li"cial (&?;), a. Relating to the police. [R.]

<! p. 1108 !>

Pol"i*cied (?), a. Policed. [Obs.] Bacon.

Pol"i*cy (?), n.; pl. Policies (#). [L. politia, Gr. &?;; cf. F. police, Of. police. See Police, n.] 1. Civil polity. [Obs.]

2. The settled method by which the government and affairs of a nation are, or may be, administered; a system of public or official administration, as designed to promote the external or internal prosperity of a state.

3. The method by which any institution is administered; system of management; course.

4. Management or administration based on temporal or material interest, rather than on principles of equity or honor; hence, worldly wisdom; dexterity of management; cunning; stratagem.

5. Prudence or wisdom in the management of public and private affairs; wisdom; sagacity; wit.

The very policy of a hostess, finding his purse so far above his clothes, did detect him.

Fuller.

6. Motive; object; inducement. [Obs.]

What policy have you to bestow a benefit where it is counted an injury?

Sir P. Sidney.

Syn. -- See Polity.

Pol"i*cy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Policied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Policying.] To regulate by laws; to reduce to order. [Obs.] "Policying of cities." Bacon.

Pol"i*cy, n. [F. police; cf. Pr. polissia, Sp. pÛlizia, It. pÛlizza; of uncertain origin; cf. L. pollex thumb (as being used in pressing the seal), in LL. also, seal; or cf. LL. politicum, poleticum, polecticum, L. polyptychum, account book, register, fr. Gr. &?; having many folds or leaves; &?; many + &?; fold, leaf, from &?; to fold; or cf. LL. apodixa a receipt.] 1. A ticket or warrant for money in the public funds.

2. The writing or instrument in which a contract of insurance is embodied; an instrument in writing containing the terms and conditions on which one party engages to indemnify another against loss arising from certain hazards, perils, or risks to which his person or property may be exposed. See Insurance.

3. A method of gambling by betting as to what numbers will be drawn in a lottery; as, to play policy.

Interest policy, a policy that shows by its form that the assured has a real, substantial interest in the matter insured. -- Open policy, one in which the value of the goods or property insured is not mentioned. -- Policy book, a book to contain a record of insurance policies. -- Policy holder, one to whom an insurance policy has been granted. -- Policy shop, a gambling place where one may bet on the numbers which will be drawn in lotteries. -- Valued policy, one in which the value of the goods, property, or interest insured is specified. -- Wager policy, a policy that shows on the face of it that the contract it embodies is a pretended insurance, founded on an ideal risk, where the insured has no interest in anything insured.

Pol"ing (?), n. [From Pole a stick.] 1. The act of supporting or of propelling by means of a pole or poles; as, the poling of beans; the poling of a boat.

2. (Gardening) The operation of dispersing worm casts over the walks with poles.

3. One of the poles or planks used in upholding the side earth in excavating a tunnel, ditch, etc.

Pol"ish (?), a. [From Pole a Polander.] Of or pertaining to Poland or its inhabitants. - - n. The language of the Poles.

Pol"ish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Polishing.] [F. polir, L. polire. Cf. Polite, -ish] 1. To make smooth and glossy, usually by friction; to burnish; to overspread with luster; as, to polish glass, marble, metals, etc.

2. Hence, to refine; to wear off the rudeness, coarseness, or rusticity of; to make elegant and polite; as, to polish life or manners. Milton.

To polish off, to finish completely, as an adversary. [Slang] W. H. Russell.

Pol"ish, v. i. To become smooth, as from friction; to receive a gloss; to take a smooth and glossy surface; as, steel polishes well. Bacon.

Pol"ish, n. 1. A smooth, glossy surface, usually produced by friction; a gloss or luster.

Another prism of clearer glass and better polish.

Sir I. Newton.

2. Anything used to produce a gloss.

3. Fig.: Refinement; elegance of manners.

This Roman polish and this smooth behavior.

Addison.

Pol"ish*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being polished.

Pol"ished (?), a. Made smooth and glossy, as by friction; hence, highly finished; refined; polite; as, polished plate; polished manners; polished verse.

Pol"ished*ness, n. The quality of being polished.

Pol"ish*er (?), n. One who, or that which, polishes; also, that which is used in polishing. Addison.

Pol"ish*ing, a. & n. from Polish.

Polishing iron, an iron burnisher; esp., a small smoothing iron used in laundries. -- Polishing slate. (a) A gray or yellow slate, found in Bohemia and Auvergne, and used for polishing glass, marble, and metals. (b) A kind of hone or whetstone; hone slate. -- Polishing snake, a tool used in cleaning lithographic stones. -- Polishing wheel, a wheel or disk coated with, or composed of, abrading material, for polishing a surface.

Pol"ish*ment (?), n. The act of polishing, or the state of being polished. [R.]

Po*lite" (?), a. [Compar. Politer (?); superl. Politest.] [L. politus, p. p. of polire to polish: cf. F. poli. See Polish, v.] 1. Smooth; polished. [Obs.]

Rays of light falling on a polite surface.

Sir I. Newton.

2. Smooth and refined in behavior or manners; well bred; courteous; complaisant; obliging; civil.

He marries, bows at court, and grows polite.

Pope.

3. Characterized by refinement, or a high degree of finish; as, polite literature. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Polished; refined; well bred; courteous; affable; urbane; civil; courtly; elegant; genteel.

Po*lite", v. t. To polish; to refine; to render polite. [Obs.] Ray.

Po*lite"ly (?), adv. 1. In a polished manner; so as to be smooth or glossy. [Obs.] Milton.

2. In a polite manner; with politeness.

Po*lite"ness, n. 1. High finish; smoothness; burnished elegance. [R.] Evelyn.

2. The quality or state of being polite; refinement of manners; urbanity; courteous behavior; complaisance; obliging attentions.

Syn. -- Courtesy; good breeding; refinement; urbanity; courteousness; affability; complaisance; civility; gentility; courtliness. -- Politeness, Courtesy. Politeness denotes that ease and gracefulness of manners which first sprung up in cities, connected with a desire to please others by anticipating their wants and wishes, and studiously avoiding whatever might give them pain. Courtesy is, etymologically, the politeness of courts. It displays itself in the address and manners; it is shown more especially in receiving and entertaining others, and is a union of dignified complaisance and kindness.

||Pol`i*tesse" (?), n. [F.] Politeness.

Pol"i*tic (?), a. [L. politicus political, Gr. &?; belonging to the citizens or to the state, fr.&?; citizen: cf. F. politique. See Police, and cf. ePolitical.] 1. Of or pertaining to polity, or civil government; political; as, the body politic. See under Body.

He with his people made all but one politic body.

Sir P. Sidney.

2. Pertaining to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong; -- said of things; as, a politic treaty. "Enrich'd with politic grave counsel." Shak.

3. Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious; and in a bad sense, artful; unscrupulous; cunning; -- said of persons.

Politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy.

Shak.

Syn. -- Wise; prudent; sagacious; discreet; provident; wary; artful; cunning.

Pol`i*tic, n. A politician. [Archaic] Bacon.

Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern; Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars.

Lowell.

Po*lit"i*cal (?), a. 1. Having, or conforming to, a settled system of administration. [R.] "A political government." Evelyn.

2. Of or pertaining to public policy, or to politics; relating to affairs of state or administration; as, a political writer. "The political state of Europe." Paley.

3. Of or pertaining to a party, or to parties, in the state; as, his political relations were with the Whigs.

4. Politic; wise; also, artful. [Obs.] Sterne.

Political economy, that branch of political science or philosophy which treats of the sources, and methods of production and preservation, of the material wealth and prosperity of nations.

Po*lit"i*cal*ism (?), n. Zeal or party spirit in politics.

Po*lit"i*cal*ly, adv. 1. In a political manner.

2. Politicly; artfully. [Obs.] Knolles.

Po*lit"i*cas`ter (?), n. [Cf. It. politicastro.] A petty politician; a pretender in politics. Milton.

Pol`i*ti"cian (?), n. [Cf. F. politicien.]

1. One versed or experienced in the science of government; one devoted to politics; a statesman.

While empiric politicians use deceit.

Dryden.

2. One primarily devoted to his own advancement in public office, or to the success of a political party; -- used in a depreciatory sense; one addicted or attached to politics as managed by parties (see Politics, 2); a schemer; an intriguer; as, a mere politician.

Like a scurvy politician, seem To see the things thou dost not.

Shak.

The politician . . . ready to do anything that he apprehends for his advantage.

South.

Pol`i*ti"cian, a. Cunning; using artifice; politic; artful. "Ill-meaning politician lords." Milton.

Po*lit"i*cist (?), n. A political writer. [R.]

Pol"i*tic*ly (?), adv. In a politic manner; sagaciously; shrewdly; artfully. Pope.

Pol"i*tics (?), n. [Cf. F. politique, Gr. &?; (sc.&?;). See Politic.] 1. The science of government; that part of ethics which has to do with the regulation and government of a nation or state, the preservation of its safety, peace, and prosperity, the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest, the augmentation of its strength and resources, and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals.

2. The management of a political party; the conduct and contests of parties with reference to political measures or the administration of public affairs; the advancement of candidates to office; in a bad sense, artful or dishonest management to secure the success of political candidates or parties; political trickery.

When we say that two men are talking politics, we often mean that they are wrangling about some mere party question.

F. W. Robertson.

Pol"i*tize (?), v. i. To play the politician; to dispute as politicians do. [Obs.] Milton.

Pol"i*ture (?), n. [L. politura, fr. polire to polish. See Polish, v.] Polish; gloss. [Obs.] Donne.

Pol"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Polities (#). [L. politia, Gr. &?;: cf. F. politie. See 1st Policy, Police.] 1. The form or constitution of the civil government of a nation or state; the framework or organization by which the various departments of government are combined into a systematic whole. Blackstone. Hooker.

2. Hence: The form or constitution by which any institution is organized; the recognized principles which lie at the foundation of any human institution.

Nor is possible that any form of polity, much less polity ecclesiastical, should be good, unless God himself be author of it.

Hooker.

3. Policy; art; management. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Syn. -- Policy. -- Polity, Policy. These two words were originally the same. Polity is now confined to the structure of a government; as, civil or ecclesiastical polity; while policy is applied to the scheme of management of public affairs with reference to some aim or result; as, foreign or domestic policy. Policy has the further sense of skillful or cunning management.

Po*litz`er*i*za"tion (?), n. (Med.) The act of inflating the middle ear by blowing air up the nose during the act of swallowing; -- so called from Prof. Politzer of Vienna, who first practiced it.

Pol"ive (?), n. A pulley. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pol"ka (?), n. [Pol. Polka a Polish woman: cf. F. & G. polka.] 1. A dance of Polish origin, but now common everywhere. It is performed by two persons in common time.

2. (Mus.) A lively Bohemian or Polish dance tune in 2-4 measure, with the third quaver accented.

Polka jacket, a kind of knit jacket worn by women.

Poll (?), n. [From Polly, The proper name.] A parrot; -- familiarly so called.

Poll, n. [Gr. &?; the many, the rabble.] One who does not try for honors, but is content to take a degree merely; a passman. [Cambridge Univ., Eng.]

Poll (?), n. [Akin to LG. polle the head, the crest of a bird, the top of a tree, OD. pol, polle, Dan. puld the crown of a hat.] 1. The head; the back part of the head. "All flaxen was his poll." Shak.

2. A number or aggregate of heads; a list or register of heads or individuals.

We are the greater poll, and in true fear They gave us our demands.

Shak.

The muster file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll.

Shak.

3. Specifically, the register of the names of electors who may vote in an election.

4. The casting or recording of the votes of registered electors; as, the close of the poll.

All soldiers quartered in place are to remove . . . and not to return till one day after the poll is ended.

Blackstone.

5. pl. The place where the votes are cast or recorded; as, to go to the polls.

6. The broad end of a hammer; the but of an ax.

7. (Zoˆl.) The European chub. See Pollard, 3 (a).

Poll book, a register of persons entitled to vote at an election. -- Poll evil (Far.), an inflammatory swelling or abscess on a horse's head, confined beneath the great ligament of the neck. -- Poll pick (Mining), a pole having a heavy spike on the end, forming a kind of crowbar. -- Poll tax, a tax levied by the head, or poll; a capitation tax.

Poll, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Polling.] 1. To remove the poll or head of; hence, to remove the top or end of; to clip; to lop; to shear; as, to poll the head; to poll a tree.

When he [Absalom] pollled his head.

2 Sam. xiv. 26.

His death did so grieve them that they polled themselves; they clipped off their horse and mule's hairs.

Sir T. North.

2. To cut off; to remove by clipping, shearing, etc.; to mow or crop; -- sometimes with off; as, to poll the hair; to poll wool; to poll grass.

Who, as he polled off his dart's head, so sure he had decreed That all the counsels of their war he would poll off like it.

Chapman.

3. To extort from; to plunder; to strip. [Obs.]

Which polls and pills the poor in piteous wise.

Spenser.

4. To impose a tax upon. [Obs.]

5. To pay as one's personal tax.

The man that polled but twelve pence for his head.

Dryden.

6. To enter, as polls or persons, in a list or register; to enroll, esp. for purposes of taxation; to enumerate one by one.

Polling the reformed churches whether they equalize in number those of his three kingdoms.

Milton.

7. To register or deposit, as a vote; to elicit or call forth, as votes or voters; as, he polled a hundred votes more than his opponent.

And poll for points of faith his trusty vote.

Tickell.

8. (Law) To cut or shave smooth or even; to cut in a straight line without indentation; as, a polled deed. See Dee&?; poll. Burrill.

To poll a jury, to call upon each member of the jury to answer individually as to his concurrence in a verdict which has been rendered.

Poll, v. i. To vote at an election. Beaconsfield.

Pol"lack (?), n. [Cf. G. & D. pollack, and Gael. pollag a little pool, a sort of fish.] (Zoˆl.) (a) A marine gadoid food fish of Europe (Pollachius virens). Called also greenfish, greenling, lait, leet, lob, lythe, and whiting pollack. (b) The American pollock; the coalfish.

Poll"age (?), n. A head or poll tax; hence, extortion. [Obs.] Foxe.

Pol"lan (?), n. [Cf. Gael. pollag a kind of fish.] (Zoˆl.) A lake whitefish (Coregonus pollan), native of Ireland. In appearance it resembles a herring.

Pol"lard (?), n. [From Poll the head.] 1. A tree having its top cut off at some height above the ground, that may throw out branches. Pennant.

2. A clipped coin; also, a counterfeit. [Obs.] Camden.

3. (Zoˆl.) (a) A fish, the chub. (b) A stag that has cast its antlers. (c) A hornless animal (cow or sheep).

Pol"lard, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pollarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Pollarding.] To lop the tops of, as trees; to poll; as, to pollard willows. Evelyn.

Poll"ax` (?), n. A poleax. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Polled (?), a. Deprived of a poll, or of something belonging to the poll. Specifically: (a) Lopped; -- said of trees having their tops cut off. (b) Cropped; hence, bald; -- said of a person. "The polled bachelor." Beau. & Fl. (c) Having cast the antlers; -- said of a stag. (d) Without horns; as, polled cattle; polled sheep.

Pol"len (?), n. [L. pollen fine flour, fine dust; cf. Gr. &?;] 1. Fine bran or flour. [Obs.] Bailey.