Webster's Dictionary 1913

4240

Piercel

Pier″cel (?), n. [Cf. F. perce.] A kind of gimlet for making vents in casks; — called also piercer.

4241

Piercer

Pier″cer (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, pierces or perforates; specifically: (a) An instrument used in forming eyelets; a stiletto. (b) A piercel.2. (Zoöl.) (a) The oviposit...

4242

Piercing

Pier″cing (?), a. Forcibly entering, or adapted to enter, at or by a point; perforating; penetrating; keen; — used also figuratively; as, a piercing instrument, or thrust. “Pier...

4243

Pierian

Pi‐e″ri‐an (?), a. [L. Pierius, from Mount Pierus, in Thessaly, sacred to the Muses.] Of or pertaining to Pierides or Muses.Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Pope.

4244

Pierid

Pi″er‐id (?), n. [See Peirides.] (Zoöl.) Any butterfly of the genus Pieris and related genera. See Cabbage butterfly, under Cabbage.

4245

Pierides

‖Pi‐er″i‐des (?), n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. �. See Pierian.] (Class. Myth.) The Muses.

4246

Pierre-perdu

‖Pierre′–per′du″ (?), n. [F. pierre perdue lost stone.] Blocks of stone or concrete heaped loosely in the water to make a foundation (as for a sea wall), a mole, etc.

4247

Piet

Pi″et (pī″ĕt), n. [Dim. of Pie a magpie: cf. F. piette a smew.] (Zoöl.) (a) The dipper, or water ouzel. (b) The magpie.Jay piet(Zoöl.), the European jay. — Sea piet(Zoöl.), the ...

4248

Pietà

‖Pi‐e‐tà″ (pē̍‐ā̍‐tä″), n.(Fine Arts) A representation of the dead Christ, attended by the Virgin Mary or by holy women and angels. Mollett.

4249

Pietism

Pi″e‐tism (pī″ē̍‐tĭz'm), n. [Cf. G. pietismus, F. piétisme.] 1. The principle or practice of the Pietists.2. Strict devotion; also, affectation of devotion.The Schöne Seele, tha...

4250

Pietist

Pi″e‐tist (?), n. [Cf. G. pietist, F. piétiste. See Piety.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a class of religious reformers in Germany in the 17th century who sought to revive declining pie...

4251

Pietistic

{ Pi′e‐tis″tic (?), Pi′e‐tis″tic‐al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to the Pietists; hence, in contempt, affectedly or demonstratively religious. Addison.

4252

Pietra dura

‖Pi‐e″tra du″ra (?). (Fine Arts) Hard and fine stones in general, such as are used for inlay and the like, as distinguished from the softer stones used in building; thus, a Flor...

4253

Piety

Pi″e‐ty (?), n. [F. piété; cf. It. pietà; both fr. L. pietas piety, fr. pius pious. See Pious, and cf. Pity.] 1. Veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being, and love of his ch...

4254

Piewipe

Pie″wipe′ (?), n.(Zoöl.) The lapwing, or pewit.

4255

Piezometer

Pi′e‐zom″e‐ter (?), n. [Gr. � to press + -meter: cf. F. piézomètre.] 1. (Physics) An instrument for measuring the compressibility of liquids.2. (Physics) A gauge connected with ...

4256

Piffero

{ ‖Pif″fe‐ro (?), ‖Pif″fa‐ra (?), } n. [It. piffero.] (Mus.) A fife; also, a rude kind of oboe or a bagpipe with an inflated skin for reservoir.

4257

Piffle

Pif″fle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Piffled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Piffling (?).] To be sequeamish or delicate; hence, to act or talk triflingly or ineffectively; to twaddle; piddle.

4258

Piffle (2)

Pif″fle, n. Act of piffling; trifling talk or action; piddling; twaddle. “Futile piffle.” Kipling.

4259

Pig

Pig (?), n. A piggin. [Written also pigg.]

4260

Pig (2)

Pig, n. [Cf. D. big, bigge, LG. bigge, also Dan. pige girl, Sw. piga, Icel. pīka.] 1. The young of swine, male or female; also, any swine; a hog. “Two pigges in a poke.” Chaucer...

4261

Pig (3)

Pig, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p.Pigged (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Pigging (?).] 1. To bring forth (pigs); to bring forth in the manner of pigs; to farrow.2. To huddle or lie together like...

4262

Pig-eyed

Pig″–eyed′ (?), a. Having small, deep-set eyes.

4263

Pig-headed

Pig″–head′ed (?), a. Having a head like a pig; hence, figuratively: stupidity obstinate; perverse; stubborn. B. Jonson. — Pig″–head′ed‐ness, n.

4264

Pig-jawed

Pig″–jawed′ (?), a.(Zoöl.) Having the upper jaw projecting beyond the lower, with the upper incisors in advance of the lower; — said of dogs.

4265

Pig-sticking

Pig″–stick′ing (?), n. Boar hunting; — so called by Anglo-Indians. Tackeray.

4266

Pigeon

Pi″geon (?), n. [F., fr. L. pipio a young pipping or chirping bird, fr. pipire to peep, chirp. Cf. Peep to chirp.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any bird of the order Columbæ, of which numerous sp...