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y small woodpeckers of the genus Picumnus and allied genera. Their tail feathers are not stiff and sharp at the tips, as in ordinary woodpeckers.

Any additional or auxiliary mass of masonry used to stiffen a wall. See Buttress.

A species of wall made of stiff earth or clay rammed in between molds which are carried up as the wall rises; -- called also pisé work. Gwilt.

In a plaguing manner; vexatiously; extremely. [Colloq.] "Ronsard is so plaguily stiff and stately." Landor.

One who makes complaint; the plaintiff. [Obs.]

in a still more limited sense, and in modern practice, the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's declaration and demand. That which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant's plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more…

To present an answer, by allegation of fact, to the declaration of a plaintiff; to deny the plaintiff's declaration and demand, or to allege facts which show that ought not to recover in the suit; in a less strict sense, to make an allegation of fact in a cause; to carry on the allegations of the respective parties in…

The mutual pleas and replies of the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is joined, and the question made to rest on some single point. Blackstone.

The free-swimming larva of sea urchins and ophiurans, having several long stiff processes inclosing calcareous rods.

Stiff like a poker. [Colloq.]

A high priest; a pontiff.

Relating to, or consisting of, pontiffs or priests. "The pontific college with their augurs and flamens." Milton.

Of or pertaining to a pontiff, or high priest; as, pontifical authority; hence, belonging to the pope; papal.

The term of office of a pontiff. Milman.

Of or pertaining to the pontiff or pope. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Stiff and sharp; prickly. Holland.

The quality or state of being prim; affected formality or niceness; preciseness; stiffness.

ty or state of being prudish; excessive or affected scrupulousness in speech or conduct; stiffness; coyness. Cowper.

A plaintiff; a prosecutor.

Law), a count in an action grounded on a promise that the defendant would pay to the plaintiff for his service as much as he should deserve. -- Quantum sufficit (, or Quantum suff. Etym: [L., as much suffices] (Med.), a sufficient quantity. -- Quantum valebat ( Etym: [L., as much at it was worth] (Law), a count in an…