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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



539 words match “CHIEFLY”

PEARL n.
arly luster. -- Pearl white. (a) Basic bismuth nitrate, or bismuth subchloride; - - used chiefly as a cosmetic. (b) A variety of white lead blued with indigo or Berlin blue.
PECAN n.
A species of hickory (Carya olivæformis), growing in North America, chiefly in the Mississippi valley and in Texas, where it is one of the largest of forest trees; also, its fruit, a smooth, oblong nut, an inch or an inch and a half long, with a thin shell and well- flavored meat. [Written also pacane.]…
PEMBROKE TABLE n.
A style of four-legged table in vogue in England, chiefly in the later Georgian period.
PENNY n.
se, wise or prudent only in small matters; saving small sums while losing larger; -- used chiefly in the phrase, penny wise and pound foolish.
PER DIEM n.
By the day; substantively (chiefly U. S.), an allowance or amount of so much by the day.
PERSIAN a.
e fruit of Rhamnus infectorius, a kind of buckthorn, used for dyeing yellow, and imported chiefly from Trebizond. -- Persian cat. (Zoöl.) Same as Angora cat, under Angora. -- Persian columns (Arch.), columns of which the shaft represents a Persian slave; -- called also Persians. See Atlantes. -- Persian drill (Mech.…
PETERSHAM n.
A rough, knotted woolen cloth, used chiefly for men's overcoats; also, a coat of that material.
PETREL n.
laria, and several allied genera. Diving petrel, any bird of the genus Pelecanoides. They chiefly inhabit the southern hemisphere. -- Fulmar petrel, Giant petrel. See Fulmar. -- Pintado petrel, the Cape pigeon. See under Cape. -- Pintado petrel, any one of several small petrels, especially Procellaria pelagica, or M…
PHEASANT n.
ceous birds of the genus Phasianus, and many other genera of the family Phasianidæ, found chiefly in Asia.
PIGSKIN n.
The skin of a pig, -- used chiefly for making saddles; hence, a colloquial or slang term for a saddle.
PILLAGE n.
That which is taken from another or others by open force, particularly and chiefly from enemies in war; plunder; spoil; booty. Which pillage they with merry march bring home. Shak.
PINCH n.
A lever having a projection at one end, acting as a fulcrum, -- used chiefly to roll heavy wheels, etc. Called also pinch bar. At a pinch, On a pinch, in an emergency; as, he could on a pinch read a little Latin.
PINWORM n.
A small nematoid worm (Oxyurus vermicularis), which is parasitic chiefly in the rectum of man. It is most common in children and aged persons.
PIPRA n.
Pipridæ. The male is usually glossy black, varied with scarlet, yellow, or sky blue. They chiefly inhabit South America.
PITCHBLENDE n.
A pitch-black mineral consisting chiefly of the oxide of uranium; uraninite. See Uraninite.
POCO adv.
A little; -- used chiefly in phrases indicating the time or movement; as, poco più allegro, a little faster; poco largo, rather slow. Poco a poco Etym: [It.] (Mus.) Little by little; as, poco a poco crescendo, gradually increasing in loudness.
POLARIZATION n.
l, by the deposition upon them of the gases liberated by the action of the current. It is chiefly due to the hydrogen, and results in an increase of the resistance, and the setting up of an opposing electro-motive force, both of which tend materially to weaken the current of the battery, or that passing through the cel…
POLYHALITE n.
occurring in fibrous masses, of a brick-red color, being tinged with iron, and consisting chiefly of the sulphates of lime, magnesia, and soda.
POMATUM n.
A perfumed unguent or composition, chiefly used in dressing the hair; pomade. Wiseman.
PONTOON n.
tans, 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.
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