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PIDDLE

splitting the bark of trees; by their slender tongue, armed near the tip with spines that curve backwards; and by their tail, composed of ten quills, with stiff and elastic stems,

Picus major (Great Spotted Woodpecker).

which acts as a prop in supporting them while climbing. From the structure and position of their toes-two forward and two behind, each armed with a strong hooked claw-they are naturally climbers, and wander over trees in every direction, rapidly tapping the bark with their beaks to discover the place where an insect is lodged. and insinuating their long tongue into its cracks and crevices to obtain the larvæ or eggs on which they feed. The noise they make when striking the bark is heard at a considerable distance, and gives them the name of woodpeckers. They pass most of their time in a solitary manner, living in the depths of forests. The P. viridis, or green woodpecker, is the best known species in Britain as well as on the Continent. P. major, medius, and minor are likewise European species. P. principalis, or the ivory-billed woodpecker, P. auratus, or gold-winged woodpecker, are

American

birds, the latter being by some naturalists assigned to the genus Colaptes (C. auratus). Piddle (pid'l), v.. [A form of peddle (which see).] 1. To deal in trifles; to spend time in trifling objects; to attend to trivial concerns, or the small parts rather than to the main. "Too precise, too curious, in piddling thus about the imitation of others.' Ascham. [Obsolete or provincial.]-2. To pick at table; to eat squeamishly or without appetite. Swift.-3. To make water; to urinate: a childish word.

Piddler (pid'lér), n. One who piddles. Piddock (pid'ok), n. A boring mollusc of the genus Pholas or family Pholadida (which see).

Pie (pi), n. [From the Celtic; comp. Ir. pighe, a pie.] 1. An article of food consisting of paste baked with something in it or under it, as apples, minced meat, &c.

Mincing of meat in pies saveth the grinding of the

teeth.

Bacon.

2. A mound or pit for preserving potatoes, &c.; a compost-heap.-3. In printing, a mass of types confusedly mixed or unsorted. Pie (pi), n. [Fr. pie, from L. pica, a magpie.] 1. The magpie. Chattering pies in dismal discords sung.' Shak.-2. A prating gossip or tell-tale. Chaucer.

Pie (pi), n. The old Roman Catholic ordinary, a table or directory for devotional services. Also called Pica (which see).-Cock and pie, a minced oath consisting of an adjuration of the Divine Being under a corrupted name, and the Roman Catholic service-book.

By cock and pie, sir, you shall not away to-night. Shak. Piebald (pi'bald), a. [From pie, a magpie, and bald, spotted with white; Armor. bal, a white spot on the face of an animal. See BALD.] 1. Having spots or patches of white and black or other colour; having patches of various colours; party-coloured; pied; as, a piebald horse. In a piebald livery of coarse patches and borrowed shreds.' Locke. Hence-2. Diversified; mixed; heterogeneous; mongrel.

Piece (pēs), n. [Fr. pièce, Pr. peza, It. pezza, from L.L. petium, a piece, probably from the Celtic: W. peth, Armor. pez, Gael. pios, a piece, a morsel, a fragment. Diez prefers to take it from Gr. peza, a foot, edge, border.] 1. A fragment or part of anything

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separated from the whole, in any manner; as, to break, tear, cut in pieces; to dash a thing to pieces.

Such implements of mischief, as shall dash
To pieces and o'erwhelm whatever stands
Adverse.

Milton. 2. A part of anything, though not separated or separated only in idea; not the whole; a portion. 'Call to mind a piece of a Latin poet or historian.' Addison.-3. A thing considered separately, whether regarded as a part of a whole or as complete in itself.

His own spirit is as unsettled a piece as there is in all the world. Coleridge. 4. A definite quantity or portion of certain things; as, (a) a definite quantity of cloth, measuring a certain number of yards according to its kind. A piece of muslin is 10 yds.; of calico, 28 yds.; of Irish linen, 25 yards; of Hanoverian linen, 100 double ells, or 128 yards. Simmonds. (b) A definite quantity of paper-hangings, containing about 63 superficial feet. French papers, however, vary in length and breadth, according to quality.→ 5. A distinct portion of labour; work produced; as, a piece of work.-To work by the piece, to work by the measure of quantity, and not by the measure of time. 'Recourse was had to working by the piece.' J. S. Mill. 6. An artistic or literary composition; as, to write a piece of poetry or prose; a piece of music; a finely painted piece; a piece of statuary.

Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see,

Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be.

Pope.

7. A coin; as, a piece of eight; a fourpenny piece.-8. A gun or single firearm; as, a field piece; a fowling piece. A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have placed.' Shak.9. In her. an ordinary or charge. The fesse, the bend, the pale, the bar, the cross, the saltier, the chevron, are called honourable pieces.-10. An individual regarded as embodying and exhibiting some abstract quality; an individual regarded as one of a class. Thy mother was a piece of virtue.' Shak.

I had a wife, a passing princely piece, Which far did pass that gallant girl of Greece. Mir. for Mags. 11. An individual, as possessing only a slight degree of a quality: used generally in contempt. If I had not been a piece of a logician. Sir P. Sidney.-12. A cask or vessel of wine. Beau. & Fl.-A-piece. See APIECE. -Of a piece, like; of the same sort, as if taken from the same whole; as, they seemed all of a piece. Often followed by with.

The poet must be of a piece with the spectators to gain reputation. Dryden.

-To give a piece of one's mind, to state bluntly an opinion to one's face-generally uncomplimentary. In a majestic tone the told that officer a piece of his mind.' Thackeray.

Piece (pes), v.t. pret. & pp. pieced; ppr. piecing. 1. To mend by the addition of a piece; to patch; as, to piece a garment, Here and there pieced with packthread." Shak.-2. To enlarge or increase; to add to; to complete. 'Will piece her opulent throne with kingdoms.' Shak.-3. To unite; to join;

to cement.

Dr. Preston carried it clear at the first, by dividing his adversaries; who, perceiving their error, pieced themselves together in a joint opposition against him. Fuller.

-To piece out, to extend or enlarge by addition of a piece or pieces; to make full or complete. Shak.

Piece (pes), v.i. pret. pieced; ppr. piecing. To unite by a coalescence of parts; to be compacted, as parts into a whole.

It pieced better and followed more close upon the Bacon. bruit of Plantagenet's escape.

Piece-goods (pes'gödz), n. pl. Goods generally sold by the piece, as cottons, shirtings, &c. Pieceless (pes'les), a. Not made of pieces; consisting of an entire thing. Donne. Piecelyt (pes'li), adv. In pieces; piecemeal. Huloet.

Piece-master (pes'mas-tér), n. A middleman coming between an employer and the employed. Mayhew.

Piecemeal (pes'mel), adv. [Piece, and suffix -meal, A. Sax. -mælum, by parts.] 1. In pieces; in fragments. On which it piecemeal broke.' Chapman.-2. By pieces; by little and little in succession. 'Piecemeal they win this acre first, then that.' Pope. Piecemeal (pes'mel), a. Single; separate; made of parts or pieces. The common piecemeal written parts in the playhouse.' Pope.

PIERCE

Piecemeal (pës'mël), n. A fragment; a small piece. Some few piecemeals excepted.' Rice Vaughan.

Piecemealedt (pes'meld), a. Divided into small pieces. Cotgrave.

Piecener (pes'ner), n. One who supplies the rolls of wool to the slubber in the woollen manufacture.

Piecer (pes'èr), n. One that pieces; a patcher; a boy or girl employed in a spinning factory to join broken threads. Piecework (pes'wèrk), n. Work done and paid for by the measure of quantity, or by previous estimation and agreement, in contradistinction to work done and paid for by the measure of time.

Pied (pid), a. [From pie, magpie.] Partycoloured; variegated with spots of different colours; spotted. We now apply the word chiefly or wholly to animals which are marked with large spots of different colours. If the spots are small, we use speckled. This distinction was not formerly observed, and in some cases pied is elegantly used to express a diversity of colours in small spots. 'Daisies pied and violets blue.' Shak. 'Meadows trim with daisies pied.' Milton.

Pied cattle are spotted in their tongues. Bacon. Piedness (pid'nes), n. The state of being pied; diversity of colours in spots. Shak. Pledouche (pya-dösh), n. [Fr. pidéouche, from the It. peduccio, console, corbel.] In arch. a bracket, pedestal, or socle, serving to support a bust, candelabrum, or other ornament.

Piedpoudre (pya-pö-dr), n. See PIEPOUDRE Piedroit (pya-drwa), n. [Fr. pied-droit=L. pes directus, lit. straight-foot] In arch. a pier or square pillar, partly hid within a wall. It differs from a pilaster in having neither base nor capital. Gwilt.

Piel (pel), n. A wedge for boring stones. Simmonds.

Pieledt (peld), a. [See PEEL.] Bald; bare. Pieman (pi'man), n. A man who makes and sells pies.

[graphic]

mer.

Piend (pend), n. [Dan. pind, a pin or peg; G. pinne, the piend of a hammer.] The sharp point or edge of a mason's or other hamWritten also Peen and Pane. Pie-plant (pi'plant), n. A name sometimes given to garden rhubarb from its being used for pies. Piepoudre, Piepowder (pi'pou-der), n. [Fr. pied, foot, and poudreux, dusty, from poudre, dust. See POWDER.] An ancient court of record in England, once incident to every fair and market, of which the steward of him who owned or had the toll was the judge. It was instituted to administer justice for all commercial injuries done in that very fair or market, and not in any preceding one. Piepowdered (pi'pou-derd), a. [See above.] Having dusty feet. [Rare.]

One day two peasants arrived in the Eschenheimer Gasse pie-powdered, having walked many miles from

the Polish backwoods.

West. Rev.

Pier (per), n. [O.Fr. pere, piere, a stone, Mod. Fr. pierre, from L. and Gr. petra, a stone.] 1. In arch. (a) the solid parts between openings in a wall, such as the door, windows, &c. (b) The square or otherwise formed mass or post to which a gate is hung. (c) The solid support from which an arch springs. (d) In medieval arch. a large pillar or shaft.-Pier arch, an arch springing from a pier or pillar.-2. In engin. (a) one of the supports of the arches of a bridge.-Abutment pier, the pier of a bridge next the shore. (b) A mole or jetty carried out into the sea, intended to serve as an embankment to protect vessels from the open sea, to form a harbour, &c. (e) A projecting quay, wharf, or landing-place. Pierage (per'āj), n. Toll paid for using a pier.

Pierce (pērs), v. t. pret. & pp. pierced; ppr. piercing. [Fr. percer, to pierce: origin quite uncertain.] 1. To stab or transfix with a pointed instrument; as, to pierce the body with a sword or spear.

If Percy be alive I'll pierce him.

Shak.

2. To penetrate; to enter in any manner; to force a way into; as, a column of troops pierced the main body of the enemy; a shot pierced the ship.

Steed threatens steed in high and boastful neighs Shak. Piercing the night's dull ear.

3. To affect; to touch; to move deeply. 'Did your letters pierce the queen. Shak.4. To dive or penetrate into, as into a secret or purpose.

PIERCE

Pierce (pers), v.i. pret. pierced; ppr. piercing. 1. To enter, as a pointed instrument. 2. To penetrate; to force a way into or through anything; as, the shot pierced through the side of the ship.-3. To enter; to dive or penetrate, as into a secret.

She would not pierce further into his meaning than himself should declare. Sir P. Sidney.

Pierceable (pers'a-bl), a. Capable of being pierced. Spenser.

Pierced (perst), pp. 1. Penetrated; entered by force; perforated.-2. In her. applied to any bearing which is perforated, so as to show the field under it.

Piercel (pers'el), n. An instrument for forming vents in casks; a piercer. Piercer (pers'èr), n. 1. An instrument that pierces, penetrates, or bores; specifically, an instrument used in making eyelets; a piercel; a stiletto.-2. One that pierces or perforates.-3. In entom. that organ of an insect with which it pierces bodies; the ovipositor: formerly known as the terebra.

The hollow instrument terebra, we may English piercer. Ray. Piercingly (pers'ing-li), adv. In a piercing manner; with penetrating force or effect; sharply.

Piercingness (pers'ing-nes), n. The power of piercing or penetrating; sharpness; keen

We contemplate the vast reach and compass of our understanding, the prodigious quickness and piercingness of its thought. Derham. Pier-glass (per'glas), n. A mirror or glass hanging between windows.

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Pierian (pi-e'ri-an), a. Of or belonging to Pig (pig), n. [Contr. from piggin (which

the Pierides or Muses. "The Pierian spring.' Pope.

Pierides (pi-er'i-dez), n. pl. [L.] A name of the nine Muses, who were so called from Pieria, near Mount Olympus, where they were first worshipped among the Thracians. Pieris (pi'èr-is), n. A genus of diurnal lepidopterous insects. P. cratagi is the blackveined white or hawthorn butterfly. Pierrie,tn. See PERRIE. Chaucer. Pier-table (per'ta-bl), n. A table placed between windows.

Piet (pi'et), n. [A dim. from pie, a magpie. See PIE.] A magpie. Written also Piot and Pyot. [Obsolete and Scotch.] Pietism (pi'et-izm), n. The principles or practice of the Pietists; extremely strict devotion, or affectation of piety. Pietist (pi'et-ist), n. A designation given since the end of the seventeenth century to a religious party in Germany who proposed to revive declining piety in the Reformed Churches; hence, applied to one who makes a display of strong religious feelings. The name of Pietist is the equivalent of Methodist in Britain, being taken in a good sense or otherwise according to the sentiments of the party using it.

Pietistic, Pietistical (pi-et-ist'ik, pi-et-ist'ik-al), a. Pertaining to the Pietists, or to those who make a display of strong religious feeling.

Pietra-dura (pi-et'ra-dö'ra), n. [It., hard stone.] A name given to the finest Florentine mosaic-work executed in coloured stones, as jasper, carnelian, amethyst, &c., representing fruit, birds, &c., in relief, and generally used as a decoration for coffers or the panels of cabinets.

Piety (pi'e-ti), n. [L. pietas, from pius, pious. Pity is a different form of the same word.] 1. Veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being and love of his character, or veneration accompanied with love; also, the exercise of these affections in obedience to his will and devotion to his service.

Piety is the only proper and adequate relief of decaying man. Johnson.

2. Filial reverence; reverence of parents or friends, accompanied with affection and devotion to their honour and happiness. "The piety which to my country I was judged to have shewn.' Milton.

(Pope's) filial piety excels Whatever Grecian story tells. -Religion, Devotion, Piety, Sanctity. See under RELIGION. Piezometer (pi-e-zom'et-ér), n. [Gr. piezo, to press, and metron, measure.] 1. An instrument for ascertaining the compressibility of water, and the degree of such compressibility under any given weight.-2. An instrument consisting essentially of a vertical tube inserted into a water-main, to show the pressure of the fluid at that point, by the height to which it ascends in the tube of the piezometer.

PIG-IRON

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GER-PIGEON, POWTER, and also COLUMBACEI. 2. A simpleton; a gull; a person swindled by gamblers: a slang term, opposed to rook.

Turkish or Mawmet Pigeon (Columba livia, var. turcica).

Hence, to pluck a pigeon, to strip a greenhorn of his money.-Pigeon English, a conglomeration of English and Portuguese words wrapped in a Chinese idiom, used by English and American residents in China in their intercourse with the native traders. The term has been conjectured to be for business English.

strip of money by the arts of gambling. [Slang.]

Pigeon (pij'on), v.t. To pluck; to fleece; to

Pigeon-berry (pij'on-be-ri), n. The fruit of the pocan or Virginian poke (Phytolacca decandra), used as a remedy for some forms of chronic rheumatism.

Pigeon-breasted (pij-on-brest'ed), a. Having a breast like a pigeon, caused by the curvature of the vertebral column forwards. Pigeon-express (pij'on-eks-pres), n. The conveyance of intelligence, or the intelligence conveyed, by means of a carrierpigeon.

Pigeon-hearted (pij'on-härt-ed), a. Timid; easily frightened. 'Such pigeon-hearted people.' Beau. & Fl.

Pigeon-hole (pij'on-hol), n. 1. One of the holes in a dove-cot where the pigeons go in and out.-2. A little compartment or division in a case for papers.

Abbé Sieyes has whole nests of pigeon-holes full of constitutions already made, ticketed, sorted, and numbered. Burke.

3. pl. An old English game, in which balls
were rolled through little cavities or arches.
Threepence I lost at ninepins; but I got
Six tokens towards that at pigeon-holes. Brome.
Pigeon-house (pij'on-hous), n. A dove-cot.
Pigeon-livered (pij'on-liv-érd), a. Mild in
temper; soft; gentle; pigeon-hearted.

I am pigeon-liver'd, and lack gall
To make oppression better.

Pigeon-pea (pij'on-pe), n. See ANGOLA-PEA.
Pigeonry (pij'on-ri), n. A place for keeping
pigeons; a dove-cot.
Pigeon-toed (pij'on-tod), a. Having the
Pigeon-wood (pij'on-wud), n. Same as

Pig-eyed (pig'id), a. Having small sunken eyes; having eyes like those of swine. Piggery (piger-i), n. A place with sties and other accompaniments allotted to pigs. Piggin (pig'in), n. [Gael. pigean, Ir. pigin, Piggesnie, tn. See PIGSNIE. Chaucer. an earthen pitcher.] A small wooden vessel with an erect handle. Wooden piggins.' Lamb.

Piggish (pig'ish), a. Relating to or like pigs; swinish. Quart. Rev.

Pig-headed (pig'hed-ed), a. 1.Having a head like a pig; having a large, ill-shaped head. 2. Stupidly obstinate.

You should be some dull tradesman by your pigheaded sconce now. B. Jonson. Pig-headedness (pig-hed'ed-nes), n. The quality of being pig-headed, or of being obstinately stupid. De Quincey. Pight (pit), pret. and pp. [From pitch, O.E. picche, a softened form of pick, pike.] 1. Pitched. Your vile abominable tents, thus proudly pight upon our Phrygian plains.' Shak.-2. Fixed; determined. When I dissuaded him from his intent, And found him pight to do it. Pig-iron (pig'i-èrn), n. Iron in pigs, as it comes from the smelting furnace. See

PIG-LEAD

Pig-lead (pig'led), n. Lead in pigs, as when first extracted from the ore. See PIG. Pigmean (pig-me'an), a. Same as Pygmean. Pigment (pig'ment), n. [L. pigmentum, from the stem of pingo, to paint.] 1. Paint; any substance used by painters, dyers, &c., to impart colours to bodies.-2. In physiol. the colouring matter found in animal and plant bodies, such as the mucous secretion which covers the iris of the eye, and gives it its various colours.-3. Highly spiced wine sweetened with honey; piment. Sir W. Scott.

Pigmental (pig-ment'al), a. Pertaining to pigments.

Pigmentary (pig-ment'a-ri), a. Pertaining to pigments; furnished with pigments. Edin. Rev.

Pigment-cell (pig'ment-sel), n. In physiol. a small cell containing colouring matter, as in the choroid coat of the eye, the skin of the toad, cuttle-fish, &c.

Pigmentous (pig-ment'us), a. Pigmentary Dunglison.

Pigmy (pig'mi), n. and a.

See PYGMY.

Pignerate (pig'nér-at), v. t. [L. pignero, pigneror. See PIGNORATION.] 1. To pawn; to pledge; to mortgage.-2. To take in pawn, as a pawnbroker. Blount. Pignon (pen'yon), n. [Fr. pignon, from L. pinus, the pine.] An edible seed of the cones of certain pine-trees.

Pignoration (pig-ner-a'shon), n. [L. pignoratio, pigneratio, a pledging, pignero, to pledge, from pignus, pignoris or pigneris, a pledge.] 1. The act of pledging or pawning. 2. In the civil law, the taking of cattle doing damage, as security, till satisfaction is made. Pignorative (pig'ner-at-iv), a. Pledging; pawning. Bouvier. [Rare.] Pignus (pignus), n. [L.] In law, a pledge or security for a debt or demand. Pignut (pig'nut), n. 1. The root of a plant, Bunium flexuosum. See EARTH-NUT.

Shak

I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts. 2. A North American tree, the broom hickory (Carya porcina), and its fruit. Pigotite (pigot-it), n. [After the Rev. Mr. Pigot.] A brownish-yellow mineral containing alumina and organic matter, found incrusting certain caves. It is formed by the decomposing organic matter of the vegetation above being conveyed in solution in water into the cracks and fissures of the cavern, where it comes in contact with the alumina of the rocks. It is found in granite caverns in Cornwall, and in serpentine caverns near Portsoy in Banffshire. Pig-pen (pig'pen), n. A pen for pigs; a pigsty.

Pig-skin (pig'skin), n. 1. The skin of a pig, especially when prepared for saddlery, binding, or other purposes.-2. A saddle.

He was my governor, and no better master ever sat in pig-skin. Dickens. Pigsnie, Pigsnyet (pigz'ni), n. [That is, pig's eye; nye is for eye, O.E. ye, as negg for egg.] 1. A word of endearment to a girl.

Miss, mine own pigsnie, thou shalt have news of Dametas. Sir P. Sidney.

2. The eye of a woman. Hudibras. Written also Piggesnie.

Pigsty (pig'sti), n. A sty or pen for pigs. Pigtail (pig tál), n. 1. The tail of a pig.2. A queue or cue; the hair of the head tied in the form of a pig's tail.

Should we be so apt as we are now to compassionate the misfortunes, and to forgive the inconsistency of Charles I., if his pictures had portrayed him in a bob-wig and a pig-tail Lord Lytton.

3. Tobacco twisted into a long rope or cord. 'The tobacco he usually cheweth called pigtail.' Swift.

Pigweed (pig'wed), n. Same as Goosefoot. Pigwiggin, Pigwidgin (pig'wig-in, pig'wij-in), n. [Pigwiggin is the name of an elf in Drayton's Nymphidia; but the origin of the name is doubtful; comp. W. pigoden, a field-mouse.] A fairy; hence, a colloquial term for anything very small. Jeffrey. Also used adjectively.

Pika (pika), n. The calling-hare (Lagomys), an animal nearly allied to the hares, and forming the family Lagomydæ. It is found in Russia, Siberia, and North America, and is remarkable for the manner in which it stores up its winter provision, and also for its voice, the tone of which so much resembles that of a quail as to be often mistaken for it. Pike (pik), n. [Fr. pique, a pike; closely allied to pick, peck. See PICK.] 1. A military weapon, consisting of a long wooden

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shaft or staff with a flat steel head pointed. It was used among infantry soldiers from the reign of Edward IV. to that of George II., when it was superseded by the bayonet. See SPONTOON.-2. A central spike sometimes used in targets, to which it was affixed by means of a screw. Shak.-3.† A fork used in husbandry; a pitchfork.

A rake to rake up the fitches that lie,

A pike for to pike them up handsome to drie. Tusser. 4. A large cock of hay. [Provincial English.] 5. A pointed peak, hill, or mountain summit generally used along with some particular designation, as Langdale Pikes, High Pike. That tall pike.' Wordsworth. [North of England.-6. In turning, a point or centre on which to fasten anything to be turned. Hard wood, prepared for the lathe with rasping, they pitch between the pikes. Fos. Moxon.

7. A spike; the pointed end of anything. It was ordained in the Parliament of Westminster, anno 1463,... that no man weare shoes or boots having pikes passing two inches in length.' Bryant. 8. In ich. a fish of the genus Esox, belonging to the malacopterygious abdominal fishes, so named from its long shape or from the form of its snout. It is a fresh-water fish, living in deep water, and very voracious, but becomes palatable food. The common pike (Esox lucius) abounds in most of the lakes of Europe. The pike, the tyrant of the flood.' Pope.-Sea pike, a name given to the garfish. Bony pike. See LEPIDOSTEUS.

Common Pike (Esox lucius).

9. A contraction of Turnpike; a toll-bar. See TURNPIKE.

Pike (pik), v.t. To pick; to make bare; to pilfer; to cull; to select. [Scotch.] Pike, v.t. [See PICK, PITCH, PIKE, n.] 1. To pitch.-2. To pick, as a hawk does his feathers.-3. To steal.-4. To peep. Chaucer. Piked (pikt), a. Furnished with a pike; ending in a point; acuminated.

Their shoes and pattens are snouted and piked more than a finger long. Camden. Pike-devant (pik-de-vant'), n. [O.E. pike, peak, Fr. pique, and devant, before.] A beard cut to a sharp point in the middle, so as to form a peak or pike below the chin. This fashion is seen in most of the portraits of Charles I.

And here I vow by my concealed beard, if ever it chance to be discovered to the world, that it may make a pike-devant, I will have it so sharp pointed that it shall stab Motto like a poynado. Lyly. Pike-headed (pik'hed-ed), a. Having a sharp-pointed head.

Pikelet, Pikelin (pik'let, pik'lin), n. A light cake or muffin.

He crumpled up his broad face like a half-toasted pikelet. Anna Seward. Pikeman (pik'man), n.

1. A soldier armed with a pike.-2. A miner working with a pike or crowbar. Disraeli.-3. Turnpikeman. 'The cheery toot of the guard's horn, to warn some drowsy pikeman or the ostler at the next change.' T. Hughes. Pikerel, n. A young pike. Chaucer. Pike-staff (pik'staf), n.

1. The staff or shaft of a pike.-2. A long staff with a sharp pike in the lower end of it, carried in the hand as a support in frosty weather. As plain as a pike-staff. Tatler. Pilaget (pil'aj), n. Same as Pelage. Bacon. Pilaster (pi-las'ter), n. [Fr. pilastre, It. pilastro, from L.pila, a pile, whence pillar.] A debased pillar; a square pillar projecting from a pier, or from a wall, to the extent of from one-quarter to one-third of its breadth.

Pilaster.

PILE

Pilasters originated in the Grecian antæ. In Roman architecture they were sometimes tapered like columns, and finished with capitals modelled after the order with which they were used.

Pilastered (pi-las'térd), a. Furnished with pilasters.

Pilau, Pilaw (pi'la), n. A pillau. Curries, pilaws, and pipes." Thackeray. See PILLAU. Pilch (pilch), n. [A. Sax. pylca, pylece, a furred garment, from L.L. pellicea. See PELISSE.] 1. A coat or cloak of skins or fur. Planché.

I'll beat five pounds out of his leather pilch. Dekker. 2. A flannel cloth for an infant. Pilchard (pil'shärd), n. [Probably a Cornish

Pilchard (Clupea pilchardus).

word; comp. Ir. pilseir, a pilchard; W. pilcod, a minnow.] A fish of the family Ĉlupeida (Clupea pilchardus, or Alausa pilchardus), resembling the herring, but thicker and rounder; the nose is shorter and turns up; the under jaw is shorter, the back more elevated, and the belly less sharp. These fishes appear on the Cornish coast in England about the middle of July in immense numbers, and furnish a considerable article of commerce. Fools are as like husbands as pilchards are to herrings.' Shak. Pilche,t n. [See PILCH.] A garment of skins, usually furred; a pilch. Chaucer. Pilchert (pilch'èr), n. 1. A pilch. Hanmer. 2. A pilchard. Milton.-3. A scabbard.

Will you pluck your sword out of this pilcher by the ears. Shak.

Pilcrow (pil'krō), n. [A somewhat remarkable corruption of paragraph.] In printing, a paragraph mark, thus T. Pile (pil), n. [Partly from A. Sax. pil, a heap, a wooden pile or stake, partly from Fr. pile, a heap, a pier, a voltaic pile; both from L pila, a pier or mole of stone, a pillar.] 1. A heap; a mass or collection of things in an elevated form; as, a pile of stones; a pile of bricks; a pile of wood or timber; a pile of ruins.

Shak.

What piles of wealth hath he accumulated To his own portion. -To make one's pile, to make one's fortune. [American.]-2. A regularly formed mass, as a heap of shot or shell piled up by horizontal courses in a pyramidal, wedge-like, or other forms; a collection of combustibles arranged for burning a dead body.

Woe to the bloody city, I will even make the pile for fire great. Ezek. xxiv. 9.

3. In iron-working, same as Faggot, 2.4. A large building or mass of buildings; an edifice; as, a noble pile; a venerable pile. The Goree, a vast pile of warehouses close to one of the docks, was burned to the ground. De Quincey. 5. In elect. a series of plates of two dissimilar metals, such as copper and zinc, laid one above the other alternately, with cloth or paper placed between each pair, moistened with an acid solution, for producing a current of electricity. (See VOLTAIC and GALVANISM.) The term is sometimes used as synonymous with battery, for any form of apparatus designed to produce a current of dynamic electricity. (See GALVANIC.) The word is also applied to an apparatus for detecting slight changes of temperature. See THERMO-PILE.-6. In arch. and engin. piles are beams, generally of timber, pointed at the end, driven into the soil for the support of some superstructure or to form part of a wall, as of a coffer-dam or quay. For permanent works piles are driven in loose or uncertain strata in rows, leaving a space a few feet in width between them, and upon the heads of the piles the foundations of the superstructure are erected. In temporary constructions they are driven close together in single or double rows, so as to inclose a space of water and form a cofferdam, from which the water is subsequently pumped out, and thus a dry space is obtained for laying the foundation of piers, &c., in bridges and other similar works. Iron piles are used for wharf walls and other

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-Pneumatic pile, one driven by atmospheric pressure when the air is exhausted from within it.-Screw pile, one with a screw at the lower end, and sunk by rotation aided by pressure if necessary. See SHEETPILE.-7. In her, one of the lesser ordinaries, triangular in form, and issuing from the chief with the point downwards. When borne plain it should contain one-third of the chief in breadth, and if charged, two-thirds. -Per pile, a term used when the escutcheon is divided by lines in the form of the pile. Pile (pil), v.t. pret. & pp. piled; ppr. piling. 1. To lay or throw into a heap; to collect many things into a mass; to heap up; as, to pile wood or stones. 'Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock.' Shak.-2. To bring into an aggregate; to accumulate; as, to pile quotations or comments.

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3. To drive piles into; to furnish, strengthen, or support with piles.-To pile arms, in military tactics, to place three muskets in such a relative position that the butts shall remain firm upon the ground, and the muzzles be close together in an oblique direction.To pile barley, to break off the awns of threshed barley.

Pile (pil), n. [Fr.; origin unknown.] One side of a coin; originally, a punch or puncheon used in stamping figures on coins, and containing the figures to be impressed. Hence the arms, or reverse, side of a coin is called the pile, as distinguished from the obverse, which formerly bore a cross in the place of the head. Hence the game of cross and pile. See under CROSS.

Pile f (pil), n. [D. pijl, Dan. pil, piil, Sw. pil, G. pfeil, an arrow, from L. pilum, a javelin.] The head of an arrow; an arrow with a square head, used in a cross-bow; a small javelin.

When, on his haire-plumed helmet's crest, the dart first smote, then ran

Into his forehead, and there stucke the steele pile, making way

Quite through his skull.

Chapman.

Pile (pil), n. [O.Fr. peil, from L. pilus, hair.] 1. A hair; a fibre of wool, cotton, and the like.-2. The nap, the fine hairy or woolly surface of cloth; also, the shag or hair on the skins of animals. Velvet soft, or plush with shaggy pile.' Cowper. Pileate, Pileated (pi'lē-āt, pï'lễ-āt-ed), a. [L. pileus, a cap.] 1. Having the form of a cap or cover for the head. 'A pileated echinus taken up with different shells of several kinds.' Woodward.-2. In bot. having a cap or lid like the cap of a mushroom. Pile-cap (pil'kap), n. In hydraulic engin. a beam connecting the heads of piles. Pile-carpet (pil-kär'pet), n. A carpet in which the looped weft is cut so as to form a pile or downy surface. Pile-clamp (pil'klamp), n. In surg. an instrument for removing hemorrhoids. Pile-driver (pil'driv-ér), n. 1. A workman

Pile-driver.

whose occupation is to drive piles.-2. A machine or contrivance worked by steam for

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driving in piles. A common form shown in the cut consists of a large ram or block of iron, which slides between two guide-posts. Being drawn up to the top, and then let fall from a considerable height, it comes down on the head of the pile with a violent blow. It may be worked by men or horses, or a steamengine. The most improved pile-driver is one in which the iron block is raised by means of a steam-hoist and automatically detached on reaching the top. Pile-dwelling (pil'dwel-ing), n. A dwelling built on piles; a lake or lacustrine dwelling. See under LACUSTRINE.

Pile-engine (pil'en-jin), n. An engine for driving down piles. See PILE-DRIVER. Pile-hoop (pil'höp), n. An iron band put round the head of a timber pile to prevent splitting.

Pileiform (pi'li-form), a. [L. pileus, a cap, and forma, shape.] Resembling a cap; pileated.

Pilementt (pil'ment), n. An accumulation. Bp. Hall.

Pilentum (pi-len'tum), n. [L.] An easy kind of chariot used by the Roman ladies at games and religious processions.

Pileopsis (pi-le-op'sis), n. [L. pileus, a cap, and Gr. opsis, appearance.] A genus of molluscs, the shell of which is irregular, conical, with the apex more or less inclined, or

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Pileopsis ungarica (Foolscap Limpet).

spiral, and directed backwards. The cavity is deep, offering an impression in form of a horse-shoe, open anteriorly. The P. ungarica, or foolscap limpet, is abundant on our own coasts.

Pileorhiza (pil'ē-ō-rī′′za), n. [L. pileus, a cap, and Gr. rhiza, a root.] In bot. a cap or hood found at the end of some roots, and distinct from the spongiole. Pileous (pile-us), a. [From L. pilus, hair.] Pertaining to the hair; covered by or consisting of hair; pilose.

Pile-plank (pil'plangk), n. One of a number of planks, about 9 inches broad and from 2 to 4 inches thick, sharpened at their lower end, and driven with their edges close together into the ground in hydraulic works, as to make a coffer-dam.

Piler (pil'èr), n. One who piles or forms a heap.

Piler, n. [Fr. pilier.] A pillar; a column. Chaucer.

Piles (pilz), n. pl. [L. pila, a ball.] A disease originating in the morbid dilatation of the veins of the lower part of the rectum, and upon the verge of the anus, and frequently caused by costiveness and irregularity of alvine evacuations. The veins of the part affected become turgid and varicose, often forming bleeding or ulcerated enlargements and tumours; hemorrhoids. Pile-shoe (pil'shö), n. The iron point of a pile.

Pile-towert (pil'tou-ér), n. Same as Peel

tower.

Piletus (pi-le'tus), n. [From L. pilum, a javelin.] An arrow used in the middle ages, having a knob upon the shaft, near the head, to prevent its penetrating too deeply.

Pileus (pile-us), n. [L., from pilus, a hair.] 1. Among the Romans, a skull-cap of felt; a hat.-2. In bot, the cap or top of a mushroom, supported by the stalk.

Pile-warp (pil'warp), n. See NAP-WARP. Pilework (pil'wêrk), n. A term applied to lacustrine dwellings. The age of the Swiss pileworks.' Sir J. Lubbock. Pile-worm (pil'wėrm), n. A worm found in piles or imbedded stakes. Pileworn (pil'wōrn), a. Having the pile or nap worn off; threadbare. 'Your pileworn coat.' Massinger. Pilewort (pil'wêrt), n. A British plant, Ficaria verna. See FICARIA.

Pilfer (pil'fer), v. i. [O.Fr. pelfrer, to plunder, pelfre, goods, spoil, booty; comp. pelf, pelfrey (which see).] To steal in small quantities; to practise petty theft. 'A pilfering hand.' Dryden.

PILL

Pilfer (pil'fer), v.t. To steal or gain by petty theft; to filch.

He would not pilfer the victory, and the defeat was easy. Bacon.

Pilferer (pil'fèr-ér), n. One who pilfers or practises petty theft.

To glory some advance a lying claim, Thieves of renown, and pilferers of fame. Young. Pilferingly (pil'fèr-ing-li), adv. In a pilfering manner; with petty theft; filchingly. Pilfery (pil'fer-i), n. The act of pilfering; petty theft. 'A piece of pilfery.' Sir R. L'Estrange.

Pilgarlickt (pil'gär-lik), n. [According to Wedgwood, 'one who peels garlick for others to eat; one who is made to endure hardships while others are enjoying themselves.' According to a writer in Notes and Queries garlic was a specific for leprosy, and as the lepers had to pil or peel their own garlic, the word pilgarlick became a synonym for a leper. As leprosy denudes the head of hair, it is easy to see how a leper would come to be called a pilled garlic, and hence how the word came to have its two senses, first of a bald, and then of a shunned person.] One who has lost his hair by disease; a poor forsaken wretch.

Pilgrim (pil'grim), n. [Direct from the L. G. or Scand.; D. pelgrim, Dan. pilegrim, Sw. pelegrim, Icel. pílagrímr, same word as Fr. pelerin, It. pellegrino, all from L. peregrinus, a wanderer, a traveller in foreign parts, a foreigner-per, through, and ager, land.] 1. A wanderer; a traveller; particularly, one that travels to a distance from his own country to visit a holy place, or to pay his devotion to the remains of dead saints.

Like pilgrims to th' appointed place we tend; The world's an inn, and death the journey's end. Dryden.

2. In Scrip. one who has only a temporary residence on earth; one who lives in the world, but is not of the world. Heb. xi. 13.

Pilgrim (pil'grim), a. Relating to pilgrims; travelling.

Till morning fair

Came forth, with pilgrim steps, in amice gray. Milton. Pilgrim (pil'grim), v.i. To wander or ramble. [Rare.]

The ambulo hath no certain home or diet, but pilgrims up and down everywhere, feeding upon all sorts of plants. Grew.

A Temple and Seminary and Prophetic Mount, whereto all kindreds of the Earth will pilgrim. Pilgrimage (pil'grim-āj), n. Carlyle. 1. A journey undertaken by a pilgrim; a long journey, particularly a journey to some place deemed sacred and venerable for a devotional purpose.

Mowbray and myself are like two men

That vow a long and weary pilgrimage. Shak.

2. In Scrip. the journey of human life. Gen. xlvii. 9.-3. A time irksomely spent.

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pilus, hair, and fero, I bear.] Bearing or producing hairs, as a leaf. Piliform (pil'i-form), a. [L. pilus, a hair, and forma, shape.] Formed like or resembling down or hairs.

Piligerous (pi-lij'er-us), a. [L. pilus, hair, and gero, to bear.] Bearing hair; covered with hair.

Piling-iron (pil'ing-i-èrn), n. An instrument for breaking off the awns of barley. Pill (pil), n. [An abbrev. of L. pilula, a dim. of pila, a ball.] 1. A little ball or small round mass of some medicinal substance or substances to be swallowed whole.-2. Some

PILL

thing unpleasant that has to be metaphorically swallowed or accepted.

Pill (pil), v.t. To dose with pills; to form into pills.

Pillt (pil), v. t. [Fr. piller, to pillage, from pilo, to plunder. See PEEL.] 1. To rob; to plunder. See PEEL.

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saddle, the root being probably that of L. pilus, hair (whence pile, of cloth). Comp. pillow.] 1. A cushion for a woman to ride on behind a person on horseback.

Why can't you ride your hobby-horse without desiring to place me on a pillion behind you? Sheridan.

PILOT-CLOTH

Pillowed (pil'lōd), p. and a. 1. Provided with a pillow or pillows.-2. In arch. a term applied to a rounded frieze. Called also Pulvinated.

Pillow-lace (pillō-las), n. Hand-made lace worked on a small pillow or cushion. Pillow-slip (pil'lo-slip), n. An outer covering or case of linen or calico for a pillow. Like a pillow; soft.

Pillowy (pil'lō-i), a. Shak,

The commons hath he pill'd with grievous taxes. 2. To peel; to strip bare.

Commons are always bare, pilled, and shorn, as the sheep that feed upon them. South. Pillt (pil), v.i. 1. To be peeled; to come off in flakes.-2. To rob. See PEEL.

Pillaffe (pil'af), n. Same as Pillau. Pillage (pil'aj), n. [Fr. pillage, from piller, to rob. See PILL, v.t.] 1. Plunder; spoil; that which is taken from another by open force, particularly and chiefly from enemies in war. 'Which pillage they with merry march bring home.' Shak.-2. The act of plundering. 'Pillage and robbery.' Shak. SYN. Plunder, rapine, spoil, depredation. Pillage (pil'aj), v.t. pret. & pp. pillaged; ppr. pillaging. To strip of money or goods by open violence; to plunder; to spoil; as, troops pillage the camp or towns of an It differs from stealing, as it implies open violence, and from robbery, which may be committed by one individual on another, whereas pillaging is usually the act of bands or numbers.

enemy.

Pillager (pil'aj-ér), n. One that pillages or plunders by open violence; a plunderer. Jove's seed, the pillager,

Stood close before, and slackt the force the arrow did confer. Chapman.

Pillar (pil'ér), n. [Fr. pilier, a pillar, from L. pila, a column. See PILE.] 1. A column; a columnar mass; by architects often distinguished from column, inasmuch as its section may be of any shape, and the whole mass not subject to the rules of classic architecture. A pillar may be used as a support or for ornament, or as a monument or memorial.

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And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light. Ex. xiii. 21.

4. A portable ornamental column formerly carried before a cardinal as emblematic of his support to the church.-5. In the manege, the centre of the volta, ring, or manege ground around which a horse turns. There are also pillars on the circumference or side, placed at certain distances by two and two.-6. In conch. same as Columella. -Pillar saint. See STYLITE. Pillar-box (pil'ler-boks), n. A public receptacle in the form of a short pillar for letters that are to be sent by post. Pillar-dollar (pillér-dol-lér), n. A Spanish silver coin having two columns supporting the royal arms on the obverse. Simmonds. Pillared (pil'lérd), a. 1. Having pillars; supported by pillars.-2. Having the form of a pillar. The pillar'd flame.' Thomson. Pillaret (pil'èr-et), n. A little pillar. 'A cross floor. . . supported with pillarets.' Fuller.

Pillarist (piller-ist), n. A stylite (which see).

Pillau, Pillaw (pil-la), n. [Per. and Turk.] An oriental dish consisting of rice cooked with fat, butter, or meat. Spelled also Pilau, Pilaw, Pillaffe.

Pill-beetle (pil'be-ti), n. See BYRRHIDE Pill-box (pil'boks), n. A box for holding pills.

Pille, v.t. See PILL. Chaucer.
Pilled, pp. Bald. Chaucer.
Pilled-garlict (pild'gär-lik), n. Same as Pil-
garlic.
Pillert (pil'èr), n. One that pills or plun-
ders.
Pillery + (pil'èr-i), n. Plunder; pillage; ra-
pine.

And then concussion, rapine, pilleries,
Their catalogue of accusations fill.

Daniel.

Pillez (pil'lēz), n. The name given in Cornwall to a species of naked barley raised there.

Pillion (pil'li-on), n. [Probably directly from the Celtic; comp. W. pilyn, Ir. pillin, Gael. pillean, Manx pollan, a pillion, a pack

2. A pad; a low saddle.-3. The pad of a saddle that rests on the horse's back.4. The head-dress of a priest.-5. In mineral. the tin that remains in the slags after it is first melted. Pillorize (pil'lor-iz), v.t. To set in a pillory. Wood.

Pillory (pil'lo-ri), n. [Fr. pilori, a pillory, Pr. espitlori, L.L. pilorium, spilorium, a pillory; origin uncertain. Wedgwood derives it from L. specularium, from specula, a look-out, a high place for observation, connecting it with Cat. espitllera, a loophole, a peep-hole; from L. speculum, a looking-glass.] A frame of wood erected on a post or pole, with movable boards resem

Pillory.

bling those in the stocks, and holes through which were put the head and hands of an offender, by way of punishment. In this manner persons were formerly exposed to public view, and generally to public insult. It was a common punishment in Britain appointed for forestallers, users of deceitful weights, those guilty of perjury, forgery, libel, seditious writings, &c. It was abolished in 1837.

The jeers of a theatre, the pillory, and the whipping-post, are very near akin. Watts.

Pillory (pillo-ri), v.t. pret. & pp. pilloried; ppr. pillorying. 1. To punish with the pillory. Hungering for Puritans to pillory.' Macaulay. Hence-2. Fig. to expose to ridicule, contempt, abuse, and the like. 'Franchises which have sometimes been pilloried with scoffing or irregular names. Gladstone. Pillour, n. [Fr. pilleur, robber.] A plunderer. Chaucer.

Pillow (pil'lo), n. [O.E. pilwe, pulwe, A. Sax. pyle; probably like D. peluwe, a pillow, from L. pulvinus, a cushion.] 1. A long cushion to support the head of a person when reposing, filled with feathers, down, or other soft material.

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2. Naut. the block on which the inner end of a bowsprit is supported.-3. A brass bearing for the journal of a shaft, carried by a plumber-block.-4. A kind of plain fustian. -The pillow of a plough is a cross piece of wood which serves to raise or lower the beam.

Pillow (pil'lō), v.t. To rest or lay on for support.

They lay down to rest, with their corselets braced, Pillowed on buckler cold and hard. Sir W. Scott. Pillow-bear, Pillow-bier (pillō-bēr), n. Same as Pillow-case. 'His wrought nightcap and lawn pillow-bear.' Bp. Hall. Pillow-block (pil'lo-blok), n. Same as Plumber-block (which see).

Pillow-case (pil'lō-kās), n. The movable sack or case which is drawn over a pillow. When you put a clean pillow-case on your lady's pillow, fasten it well with pins. Swift.

A shaven head;

"The pillowy silkiness.' Keats. Pill-patet (pil'pat), n. hence, a friar or monk. Pill-tile (pil'til), n.. A corrugated metal plate used by druggists for rolling pills on so as to divide them accurately. The roller has semicircular corrugations corresponding to those of the plate.

Pillworm (pil'werm), n. The popular name of the millipede, which can roll itself into a ball.

Pillwort (pil'wert), n. An evergreen, trailing cryptogamic plant of the genus Pilularia. Called also Pepper-grass. See PILU

LARIA.

[graphic]

Pilniewinks (pil'ni-wingks), n. See PINNY

WINKLES.

Pilose (pil'ōs), a. [L. pilosus, from pilus, hair.] Covered with, abounding in, or full of hairs; hairy.

The heat-retaining property of the pilose covering is mainly due to the amount of air it is able to retain. Owen.

Pilosity (pi-los'i-ti), n. Hairiness. Bacon. Pilot (pilot), n. [Perhaps from O.D. pijloot, a pilot, said to be from peilen, to sound the depth, and loot, the sounding-lead; but the word seems rather to be a Romance word: Fr. pilote, Sp. and Pg. piloto, It. piloto, pilota, the origin of which is not clear.] 1. One of a ship's crew or company having the charge of the helm and the ship's route; a steersman. To take the pilot's rudder in his hand.' Dryden.

His bark is stoutly timber'd and his pilot Of very expert and approved allowance. Shak. 2. Now more usually, a person qualified and appointed by proper authority to conduct ships into and out of particular harbours, or along certain coasts, channels, &c., at a certain fixed rate, depending on the draught of water and distance. The pilot has the charge of the vessel while in pilot's water, and the captain or master neglects or opposes the pilot's advice on his own responsibility. Pilots are established in various parts of the country by ancient charters of incorporation, or by particular statute.-3. A guide; a director of the course of another person; one who has the conduct of any affair requiring skill and vigilance.-4. The cow-catcher of a locomotive. [United States.]-Pilot's fairway, any channel in which a pilot must be employed. -Pilot's water, any part of the sea or of a river in which the services of a pilot must be obtained.

Pilot (pilot), v.t. 1. To act as pilot of; to direct the course of, as of a ship in any place where navigation is dangerous.-2. To guide through dangers or difficulties.

Where the people are well-educated, the art of piloting a state is best learned from the writings of Plato. Berkeley. Pilotage (pilot-aj), n. 1. The remuneration made or allowed to a pilot or one who directs the course of a ship.-2. The knowledge of coasts, rocks, bars, and channels. 'Lose all our knowledge and pilotage of that part of the world.' Raleigh.-3. The guidance of a pilot or of one who directs another.

Under his pilotage they anchored on the first of November close to the Isthmus of Darien.

Macaulay. Used adjectively in such phrases as-pilotage authority, a body of men appointed by the Board of Trade in certain ports for testing the qualifications of applicants for pilots' licenses, for granting or suspending such licenses, &c.; pilotage district, the jurisdiction of a pilotage authority. Pilot-balloon (pilot-bal-lön), n. A small balloon sent up to ascertain the direction and strength of the wind.

Pilot-bird (pilot-bėrd), n. A kind of bird found in the Caribbee Islands; so called because its presence out at sea indicates to seamen their approach to these islands. Crabb.

Pilot-boat (pilot-bōt), n. A boat used by pilots for reaching ships near shore. Pilot-bread (pi'lot-bred), n. Same as Shipbiscuit. Simmonds.

Pilot-cloth (pilot-kloth), n. A coarse stout kind of cloth for overcoats, such as are worn by pilots.

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