Chapter 55

||Pol`y*zo*a"ri*um (?), n.; pl. Polyzoaria (#). [NL.] (Zoˆl.) Same as ||Polyzoary.

Pol`y*zo"a*ry (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The compound organism of a polyzoan.

Pol`y*zon"al (?), a. [Poly- + zonal.] Consisting of many zones or rings.

Polyzonal lens (Opt.), a lens made up of pieces arranged zones or rings, -- used in the lanterns of lighthouses.

||Pol`y*zo"ˆn (?), n.; pl. Polyzoa (#). [NL. See Polyzoan.] (Zoˆl.) One ||of the individual zooids forming the compound organism of a polyzoan.

Pom"ace (?; 277), n. [L. ponum a fruit, LL., an apple: cf. LL. pomagium, pomacium.] The substance of apples, or of similar fruit, crushed by grinding.

Po`ma*cen"troid (?), a. [Gr. &?; a cover + &?; a prickle + -oid.] (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to the PomacentridÊ, a family of bright-colored tropical fishes having spiny opercula; -- often called coral fishes.

Po*ma"ceous (?), a. [LL. ponum an apple.] 1. (Bot.) (a) Like an apple or pear; producing pomes. (b) Of or pertaining to a suborder (PomeÊ) of rosaceous plants, which includes the true thorn trees, the quinces, service berries, medlars, and loquats, as well as the apples, pears, crabs, etc.

2. Like pomace.

Po*made" (?; 277), n. [F. pommade pomatum, OF. pomade cider (cf. Sp. pomada, It. pomata, LL. pomata a drink made of apples), from L. pomum fruit, LL., an apple. Cf. Pomatum.] 1. Cider. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

2. Perfumed ointment; esp., a fragrant unguent for the hair; pomatum; -- originally made from apples.

Po*man"der (?), n. [Sp. poma.] (a) A perfume to be carried with one, often in the form of a ball. (b) A box to contain such perfume, formerly carried by ladies, as at the end of a chain; -- more properly pomander box. [Obs.] Bacon.

Po"ma*rine (?), a. [Gr. &?; a lid + &?;, &?;, nose.] (Zoˆl.) Having the nostril covered with a scale.

Pomarine jager (Zoˆl.), a North Atlantic jager (Stercorarius pomarinus) having the elongated middle tail feathers obtuse. The adult is black.

Po*ma"tum (?), n. [See Pomade.] A perfumed unguent or composition, chiefly used in dressing the hair; pomade. Wiseman.

Po*ma"tum, v. t. To dress with pomatum.

Pome (?), n. [L. pomum a fruit: cf. F. pomme apple. Cf. Pomade.] 1. (Bot.) A fruit composed of several cartilaginous or bony carpels inclosed in an adherent fleshy mass, which is partly receptacle and partly calyx, as an apple, quince, or pear.

2. (R. C. Ch.) A ball of silver or other metal, which is filled with hot water, and used by the priest in cold weather to warm his hands during the service.

Pome, v. i. [Cf. F. pommer. See Pome, n.] To grow to a head, or form a head in growing. [Obs.]

Pome"gran`ate (?; 277), n. [OE. pomgarnet, OF. pome de grenate, F. grenade, L. pomum a fruit + granatus grained, having many grains or seeds. See Pome, and Garnet, Grain.] 1. (Bot.) The fruit of the tree Punica Granatum; also, the tree itself (see Balaustine), which is native in the Orient, but is successfully cultivated in many warm countries, and as a house plant in colder climates. The fruit is as large as an orange, and has a hard rind containing many rather large seeds, each one separately covered with crimson, acid pulp.

2. A carved or embroidered ornament resembling a pomegranate. Ex. xxviii. 33.

Pom"el (?), n. A pommel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pom"e*lo (?), n. [Cf. Pompelmous.] A variety of shaddock, called also grape fruit.

Pome"ly (?), a. [OF. pomelÈ, F. pommelÈ. See Pome.] Dappled. [Obs.] "Pomely gray." Chaucer.

Pom`e*ra"ni*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Pomerania, a province of Prussia on the Baltic Sea. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Pomerania.

Pomeranian dog (Zoˆl.), the loup- loup, or Spitz dog.

Pome"wa`ter (?), n. A kind of sweet, juicy apple. [Written also pomwater.] Shak.

Pom"ey (?), n.; pl. Pomeys (#). [F. pommÈ grown round, or like an apple, p. p. of pommer to pome.] (Her.) A figure supposed to resemble an apple; a roundel, -- always of a green color.

Pom"fret (?), n. [Perhaps corrupt. fr. Pg. pampano a kind of fish.] (Zoˆl.) (a) One of two or more species of marine food fishes of the genus Stromateus (S. niger, S. argenteus) native of Southern Europe and Asia. (b) A marine food fish of Bermuda (Brama Raji).

Po*mif"er*ous (?), a. [L. pomifer; pomum fruit + ferre to bear: cf. F. pomifËre.] (Bot.) (a) Bearing pomes, or applelike fruits. (b) Bearing fruits, or excrescences, more or less resembling an apple.

Pom"mage (?; 48), n. See Pomage.

||Pom`mÈ" (?), a. [F. See Pomey.] (Her.) Having the ends terminating in ||rounded protuberances or single balls; -- said of a cross.

||Pomme` blanche" (?). [F., literally, white apple.] The prairie ||turnip. See under Prairie.

Pom"mel (?), n. [OE. pomel, OF. pomel, F. pommeau, LL. pomellus, fr. L. pomum fruit, LL. also, an apple. See Pome.] A knob or ball; an object resembling a ball in form; as: (a) The knob on the hilt of a sword. Macaulay. (b) The knob or protuberant part of a saddlebow. (c) The top (of the head). Chaucer. (d) A knob forming the finial of a turret or pavilion.

Pom"mel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pommeled (?) or Pommelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pommeling or Pommelling.] To beat soundly, as with the pommel of a sword, or with something knoblike; hence, to beat with the fists. [Written also pummel.]

Pom*mel"ion (?), n. [See Pommel: cf. LL. pomilio pygmy.] (Mil.) The cascabel, or hindmost knob, of a cannon. [R.]

||Pom`met`tÈ" (?), a. [F.] Having two balls or protuberances at each ||end; -- said of a cross.

Po`mo*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. pomologique.] Of or pertaining to pomology.

Po*mol"o*gist (?), n. One versed in pomology; one who culticvates fruit trees.

Po*mol"o*gy (?), n. [L. pomum fruit + -logy: cf. F. pomologie.] The science of fruits; a treatise on fruits; the cultivation of fruits and fruit trees.

Po*mo"na (?), n. [L., from pomum fruit.] (Class. Myth.) The goddess of fruits and fruit trees.

Pomp (?), n. [OE. pompe, F. pompe, L. pompa, fr. Gr. &?; a sending, a solemn procession, pomp, fr. &?; to send. Cf. Pump a shoe.] 1. A procession distinguished by ostentation and splendor; a pageant. "All the pomps of a Roman triumph." Addison.

2. Show of magnificence; parade; display; power.

Syn. -- Display; parade; pageant; pageantry; splendor; state; magnificence; ostentation; grandeur; pride.

Pomp (?), v. i. To make a pompons display; to conduct. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Pom"pa*dour (?), n. A crimson or pink color; also, a style of dress cut low and square in the neck; also, a mode of dressing the hair by drawing it straight back from the forehead over a roll; -- so called after the Marchioness de Pompadour of France. Also much used adjectively.

Pom"pa*no (?), n. [Sp. p·mpano.] [Written also pampano.] (Zoˆl.) 1. Any one of several species of marine fishes of the genus Trachynotus, of which four species are found on the Atlantic coast of the United States; -- called also palometa.

They have a brilliant silvery or golden luster, and are highly esteemed as food fishes. The round pompano (T. thomboides) and the Carolina pompano (T. Carolinus) are the most common. Other species occur on the Pacific coast.

2. A California harvest fish (Stromateus simillimus), highly valued as a food fish.

Pompano shell (Zoˆl.), a small bivalve shell of the genus Donax; -- so called because eaten by the pompano. [Florida]

Pom*pat"ic (?), a. [L. pompaticus.] Pompous. [Obs.] Barrow.

Pom"pel*mous (?), n.; pl. Pompelmouses (#). [D. pompelmoes; cf. G. pompelmuse, F. pamplemousse, and F. pompolÈon.] (Bot.) A shaddock, esp. one of large size.

Pom"pet (?), n. [OF. pompette.] (Print.) The ball formerly used to ink the type.

Pom"pho*lyx (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; a bubble, the slag on the surface of smelted ore, from &?; a blister.] 1. (Old Chem.) Impure zinc oxide.

2. (Med.) A skin disease in which there is an eruption of bullÊ, without inflammation or fever.

Pom*pil"lion (?), n. An ointment or pomatum made of black poplar buds. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Pom"pi*on (?), n. [OF. pompon. See Pumpkin.] See Pumpion.

Pom"pire (?), n. [L. pomum a fruit, LL. also, an apple + pirum a pear.] A pearmain. [Obs.]

Pom*po"le*on (?), n. (Bot.) See Pompelmous.

Pom"pon (?), n. [F.] 1. Any trifling ornament for a woman's dress or bonnet.

2. (Mil.) A tuft or ball of wool, or the like, sometimes worn by soldiers on the front of the hat, instead of a feather.

Pom*pos"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Pomposities (&?;). The quality or state of being pompous; pompousness. Thackeray.

||Pom*po"so (?), a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) Grand and dignified; in grand ||style.

Pomp"ous (?), a. [F. pompeux, L. pomposus. See Pomp.] 1. Displaying pomp; stately; showy with grandeur; magnificent; as, a pompous procession.

2. Ostentatious; pretentious; boastful; vainlorious; as, pompous manners; a pompous style. "Pompous in high presumption." Chaucer.

he pompous vanity of the old schoolmistress.

Thackeray.

-- Pom"ous*ly, adv. -- Pomp"ous*ness, n.

Pomp"tine (?), a. See Pontine.

Pom"wa`ter (?), n. Same as Pomewater.

Pon"cho (?), n.; pl. Ponchos (&?;). [Sp.] 1. A kind of cloak worn by the Spanish Americans, having the form of a blanket, with a slit in the middle for the head to pass through. A kind of poncho made of rubber or painted cloth is used by the mounted troops in the United States service.

2. A trade name for camlets, or stout worsteds.

Pond (?), n. [Probably originally, an inclosed body of water, and the same word as pound. See Pound an inclosure.] A body of water, naturally or artificially confined, and usually of less extent than a lake. "Through pond or pool." Milton.

Pond hen (Zoˆl.), the American coot. See Coot (a). -- Pond lily (Bot.), the water lily. See under Water, and Illust. under NymphÊa. -- Pond snail (Zoˆl.), any gastropod living in fresh-water ponds or lakes. The most common kinds are air- breathing snails (Pulmonifera) belonging to LimnÊa, Physa, Planorbis, and allied genera. The operculated species are pectinibranchs, belonging to Melantho, Valvata, and various other genera. -- Pond spice (Bot.), an American shrub (Tetranthera geniculata) of the Laurel family, with small oval leaves, and axillary clusters of little yellow flowers. The whole plant is spicy. It grows in ponds and swamps from Virginia to Florida. -- Pond tortoise, Pond turtle (Zoˆl.), any freshwater tortoise of the family EmydidÊ. Numerous species are found in North America.

<! p. 1113 !>

Pond (?), v. t. To make into a pond; to collect, as water, in a pond by damming.

Pond, v. t. [See Ponder.] To ponder. [Obs.]

Pleaseth you, pond your suppliant's plaint.

Spenser.

Pon"der (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pondered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pondering.] [L. ponderare, fr. pondus, ponderis, a weight, fr. pendere to weigh: cf. F. pondÈrer. See Pendant, and cf. Pound a weight.]

1. To weigh. [Obs.]

2. To weigh in the mind; to view with deliberation; to examine carefully; to consider attentively.

Ponder the path of thy feet.

Prov. iv. 26.

Syn. -- To Ponder, Consider, Muse. To consider means to view or contemplate with fixed thought. To ponder is to dwell upon with long and anxious attention, with a view to some practical result or decision. To muse is simply to think upon continuously with no definite object, or for the pleasure it gives. We consider any subject which is fairly brought before us; we ponder a concern involving great interests; we muse on the events of childhood.

Pon"der, v. i. To think; to deliberate; to muse; -- usually followed by on or over. Longfellow.

Pon`der*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. pondÈrabilitÈ.] The quality or state of being ponderable.

Pon"der*a*ble (?), a. [L. ponderabilis: cf. F. pondÈrable.] Capable of being weighed; having appreciable weight. -- Pon"der*a*ble*ness, n.

Pon"der*al (?), a. [Cf. F. pondÈral.] Estimated or ascertained by weight; -- distinguished from numeral; as, a ponderal drachma. [R.] Arbuthnot.

Pon"der*ance (?), n. [L. ponderans, p. pr. of ponderare to weigh: cf. OF. ponderant of weight.] Weight; gravity. [R.] Gregory.

Pon"der*a*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to weight; as, a ponderary system. [R.] M'Culloch.

Pon"der*ate (?), v. t. [L. ponderatus, p. p. of ponderare. See Ponder.] To consider; to ponder. [R.]

Pon"der*ate, v. i. To have weight or influence. [R.]

Pon`der*a"tion (?), n. [L. ponderatio: cf. F. pondÈration.] The act of weighing. [R.] Arbuthnot.

Pon"der*er (?), n. One who ponders.

Pon"der*ing, a. Deliberating. -- Pon"der*ing*ly, adv.

Pon`der*os"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Ponderosities (#). [OF. ponderositÈ.] The quality or state of being ponderous; weight; gravity; heaviness, ponderousness; as, the ponderosity of gold. Ray.

Pon"der*ous (?), a. [L. ponderosus, from pondus, -eris, a weight: cf. F. pondÈreux. See Ponder.] 1. Very heavy; weighty; as, a ponderous shield; a ponderous load; the ponderous elephant.

The sepulcher . . . Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws.

Shak.

2. Important; momentous; forcible. "Your more ponderous and settled project." Shak.

3. Heavy; dull; wanting; lightless or spirit; as, a ponderous style; a ponderous joke.

Ponderous spar (Min.), heavy spar, or barytes. See Barite.

Pon"der*ous*ly, adv. In a ponderous manner.

Pon"der*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being ponderous; ponderosity.

Pond"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any one of numerous species of American fresh-water fishes belonging to the family CentrarchidÊ; -- called also pond perch, and sunfish.

The common pondfish of New England (Lepomis gibbosus) is called also bream, pumpkin seed, and sunny. See Sunfish. The long-eared pondfish (Lepomis auritus) of the Eastern United States is distinguished by its very long opercular flap.

Pond"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Any aquatic plant of the genus Potamogeton, of which many species are found in ponds or slow-moving rivers.

Choke pondweed, an American water weed (Anarcharis, or Elodea, Canadensis.) See Anacharis. -- Horned pondweed, the Zannichellia palustris, a slender, branching aquatic plant, having pointed nutlets.

Pone (pn), n. [Of Amer. Indian origin.] A kind of johnnycake. [Written also paune.] [Southern U. S.]

Po"nent (?), a. [OF., fr. It. ponente, properly, setting (applied to the setting sun), fr. L. ponens, p. pr. of ponere to set, put.] Western; occidental. [R.]

Forth rush the levant and the ponent winds.

Milton.

Pon*gee" (?), n. [Of East Indian origin.] A fabric of undyed silk from India and China.

Pon*ghee" (?), n. [From the native name.] A Buddhist priest of the higher orders in Burmah. Malcom.

Pon"go (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any large ape; especially, the chimpanzee and the orang- outang.

Pon"iard (?), n. [F. poignard (cf. It. pugnale, Sp. puÒal), fr. L. pugio, -onis; probably akin to pugnus fist, or fr. pugnus fist, as held in the fist. See Pugnacious.] A kind of dagger, -- usually a slender one with a triangular or square blade.

She speaks poniards, and every word stabs.

Shak.

Pon"iard, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poniarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Poniarding.] To pierce with a poniard; to stab. Cowper.

Po`ni*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. ponere to place.] The capability of being placed or located. [Obs.] Barrow.

||Pons (?), n.; pl. Pontes (#). [L., a bridge.] (Anat.) A bridge; -- ||applied to several parts which connect others, but especially to the ||pons Varolii, a prominent band of nervous tissue situated on the ||ventral side of the medulla oblongata and connected at each side with ||the hemispheres of the cerebellum; the mesocephalon. See Brain.

||Pons asinorum. [L., literally, bridge of asses.] See Asses' bridge, ||under Ass.

Pon"tage (?; 48), n. [LL. pontagium, from L. pons, pontis, a bridge: cf. F. pontage.] (O. Eng. Law) A duty or tax paid for repairing bridges. Ayliffe.

Pon*tee" (?), n. [F. pontil, pontis.] (Glass Making) An iron rod used by glass makers for manipulating the hot glass; -- called also, puntil, puntel, punty, and ponty. See Fascet.

Pon"tic (?), a. [L. Ponticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; the sea, especially, the Black Sea.] Of or pertaining to the Pontus, Euxine, or Black Sea.

||Pon"ti*fex (?), n.; pl. Pontifices (#). [L.] A high priest; a ||pontiff.

Pon"tiff (?), n. [F. pontife, L. pontifex, -ficis; pons, pontis, a bridge (perhaps originally, a way, path) + facere to make. Cf. Pontoon.] A high priest. Especially: (a) One of the sacred college, in ancient Rome, which had the supreme jurisdiction over all matters of religion, at the head of which was the Pontifex Maximus. Dr. W. Smith. (b) (Jewish Antiq.) The chief priest. (c) (R. C. Ch.) The pope.

Pon*tif"ic (?), a. [Cf. L. pontificius.] 1. Relating to, or consisting of, pontiffs or priests. "The pontific college with their augurs and flamens." Milton.

2. Of or pertaining to the pope; papal. Shenstone.

Pon*tif"ic*al (?), a. [L. pontificalis: cf. F. pontifical. See Pontiff.] 1. Of or pertaining to a pontiff, or high priest; as, pontifical authority; hence, belonging to the pope; papal.

2. Of or pertaining to the building of bridges. [R.]

Now had they brought the work by wondrous art Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock Over the vexed abyss.

Milton.

Pon*tif"ic*al, n. [F.] 1. A book containing the offices, or formulas, used by a pontiff. South.

2. pl. The dress and ornaments of a pontiff. "Dressed in full pontificals." Sir W. Scott.

Pon*tif`i*cal"i*ty (?), n. The state and government of the pope; the papacy. [R.] Bacon.

Pon*tif"ic*al*ly, adv. In a pontifical manner.

Pon*tif"i*cate (?), n. [L. pontificatus: cf. F. pontificat. See Pontiff.] 1. The state or dignity of a high priest; specifically, the office of the pope. Addison.

2. The term of office of a pontiff. Milman.

Pon*tif"i*cate (?), v. i. (R. C. Ch.) To perform the duty of a pontiff.

Pon"ti*fice (?), n. [L. pons, pontis, a bridge + facere to make. Cf. Pontiff.] Bridgework; structure or edifice of a bridge. [R.] Milton.

Pon`ti*fi"cial (?), a. [L. pontificius.] Papal; pontifical. [Obs.] "Pontificial writers." Burton.

Pon`ti*fi"cian (?), a. Of or pertaining to the pontiff or pope. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Pon`ti*fi"cian, n. One who adheres to the pope or papacy; a papist. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

Pon"til (?), n. Same as Pontee.

Pon"tile (?), a. [L. pontilis pertaining to a bridge.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pons Varolii. See Pons.

Pon"tine (?), a. [L. Pontinus or Pomptinus, an appellation given to a district in Latium, near Pometia.] Of or pertaining to an extensive marshy district between Rome and Naples. [Written also Pomptine.]

Pont"le*vis (?), n. [F., properly, a drawbridge.] (Man.) The action of a horse in rearing repeatedly and dangerously.

Pon*ton" (?), n. [F.] See Pontoon.

Pon*toon" (?), n. [F. ponton (cf. It. pontone), from L. ponto, -onis, fr. pons, pontis, a bridge, perhaps originally, a way, path: cf. Gr. &?; path, Skr. path, pathi, panthan. Cf. Punt a boat.] 1. (Mil.) A wooden flat-bottomed boat, a metallic cylinder, or a frame covered with canvas, India rubber, etc., forming a portable float, used in building bridges quickly for the passage of troops.

2. (Naut.) A low, flat vessel, resembling a barge, furnished with cranes, capstans, and other machinery, used in careening ships, raising weights, drawing piles, etc., chiefly in the Mediterranean; a lighter.

Pontoon bridge, a bridge formed with pontoons. -- Pontoon train, the carriages of the pontoons, and the materials they carry for making a pontoon bridge.

The French spelling ponton often appears in scientific works, but pontoon is more common form.

Pon*toon"ing, n. The act, art, or process of constructing pontoon bridges. "Army instruction in pontooning." Gen. W. T. Shermah.

Pont`vo*lant" (?; F. ?), n. [F. pont bridge + volant flying.] (Mil.) A kind of light bridge, used in sieges, for surprising a post or outwork which has but a narrow moat; a flying bridge.

Pon"ty (?), n. (Class Making) See Pontee.

Po"ny (?), n.; pl. Ponies (&?;). [Written also poney.] [Gael. ponaidh.] 1. A small horse.

2. Twenty-five pounds sterling. [Slang, Eng.]

3. A translation or a key used to avoid study in getting lessons; a crib. [College Cant]

4. A small glass of beer. [Slang]

Pony chaise, a light, low chaise, drawn by a pony or a pair of ponies. -- Pony engine, a small locomotive for switching cars from one track to another. [U.S.] -- Pony truck (Locomotive Engine), a truck which has only two wheels. -- Pony truss (Bridge Building), a truss which has so little height that overhead bracing can not be used.

Pood (?), n. [Russ. pud'.] A Russian weight, equal to forty Russian pounds or about thirty-six English pounds avoirdupois.

Poo"dle (?), n. [G. pudel.] (Zoˆl.) A breed of dogs having curly hair, and often showing remarkable intelligence in the performance of tricks.

Pooh (?), interj. [Of. imitative origin; cf. Icel. p.] Pshaw! pish! nonsense! -- an expression of scorn, dislike, or contempt.

Pooh`-pooh" (?), v. t. To make light of; to treat with derision or contempt, as if by saying pooh! pooh! [Colloq.] Thackeray.

||Poo"koo (?), n. [From the native name.] (Zoˆl.) A red African ||antelope (Kobus Vardoni) allied to the water buck.

Pool (?), n. [AS. pl; akin to LG. pool, pohl, D. poel, G. pfuhl; cf. Icel. pollr, also W. pwll, Gael. poll.] 1. A small and rather deep collection of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream; a reservoir for water; as, the pools of Solomon. Wyclif.

Charity will hardly water the ground where it must first fill a pool.

Bacon.

The sleepy pool above the dam.

Tennyson.

2. A small body of standing or stagnant water; a puddle. "The filthy mantled pool beyond your cell." Shak.

Pool, n. [F. poule, properly, a hen. See Pullet.] [Written also poule.] 1. The stake played for in certain games of cards, billiards, etc.; an aggregated stake to which each player has contributed a snare; also, the receptacle for the stakes.

2. A game at billiards, in which each of the players stakes a certain sum, the winner taking the whole; also, in public billiard rooms, a game in which the loser pays the entrance fee for all who engage in the game; a game of skill in pocketing the balls on a pool table.

This game is played variously, but commonly with fifteen balls, besides one cue ball, the contest being to drive the most balls into the pockets.

He plays pool at the billiard houses.

Thackeray.

3. In rifle shooting, a contest in which each competitor pays a certain sum for every shot he makes, the net proceeds being divided among the winners.

4. Any gambling or commercial venture in which several persons join.

5. A combination of persons contributing money to be used for the purpose of increasing or depressing the market price of stocks, grain, or other commodities; also, the aggregate of the sums so contributed; as, the pool took all the wheat offered below the limit; he put $10,000 into the pool.

6. (Railroads) A mutual arrangement between competing lines, by which the receipts of all are aggregated, and then distributed pro rata according to agreement.

7. (Law) An aggregation of properties or rights, belonging to different people in a community, in a common fund, to be charged with common liabilities.

Pin pool, a variety of the game of billiards in which small wooden pins are set up to be knocked down by the balls. -- Pool ball, one of the colored ivory balls used in playing the game at billiards called pool. -- Pool snipe (Zoˆl.), the European redshank. [Prov. Eng.] -- Pool table, a billiard table with pockets.

Pool, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pooled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pooling.] To put together; to contribute to a common fund, on the basis of a mutual division of profits or losses; to make a common interest of; as, the companies pooled their traffic.

Finally, it favors the poolingof all issues.

U. S. Grant.

Pool, v. i. To combine or contribute with others, as for a commercial, speculative, or gambling transaction.

Pool"er (?), n. A stick for stirring a tan vat.

Pool"ing, n. (Law) The act of uniting, or an agreement to unite, an aggregation of properties belonging to different persons, with a view to common liabilities or profits.