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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



1,005 words match “SHORT”

PA n.
A shortened form of Papa.
PADDLE n.
The broad part of a paddle, with which the stroke is made; hence, any short, broad blade, resembling that of a paddle. Thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon. Deut. xxiii. 13.
PAEON n.
A foot of four syllables, one long and three short, admitting of four combinations, according to the place of the long syllable. [Written also, less correctly, pæan.]
PALPICORN n.
One of a group of aquatic beetles (Palpicornia) having short club-shaped antennæ, and long maxillary palpi.
PAMPHLET n.
ew sheets of printed paper, stitched together, often with a paper cover, but not bound; a short essay or written discussion, usually on a subject of current interest.
PANDEAN a.
ing to the god Pan. Pandean pipes, a primitive wind instrument, consisting of a series of short hollow reeds or pipes, graduated in length by the musical scale, and fastened together side by side; a syrinx; a mouth organ; -- said to have been invented by Pan. Called also Pan's pipes and Panpipes.
PANT v.
y. As the hart panteth after the water brooks. Ps. xlii. 1. Who pants for glory finds but short repose. Pope.
PARABLE n.
A comparison; a similitude; specifically, a short fictitious narrative of something which might really occur in life or nature, by means of which a moral is drawn; as, the parables of Christ. Chaucer. Declare unto us the parable of the tares. Matt. xiii. 36.
PARROT n.
family Psittacidæ, as distinguished from the parrakeets, macaws, and lories. They have a short rounded or even tail, and often a naked space on the cheeks. The gray parrot, or jako (P. erithacus) of Africa (see Jako), and the species of Amazon, or green, parrots (Chrysotis) of America, are examples. Many species, as c…
PAUSE v.
To make a short stop; to cease for a time; to intermit speaking or acting; to stop; to wait; to rest. "Tarry, pause a day or two." Shak. Pausing while, thus to herself she mused. Milton.
PEDERERO n.
A term formerly applied to a short piece of chambered ordnance. [Written also paterero and peterero.]
PEDRAIL n.
iding spokes. Each spoke has attached to it a small roller which in its turn runs under a short pivoted rail controlled by a powerful set of springs. This arrangement permits the feet to accomodate themselves to obstacles even such as steps or stairs. The pedrail was invented by one B. J. Diplock of London, Eng.…
PENGUIN n.
Any bird of the order Impennes, or Ptilopteri. They are covered with short, thick feathers, almost scalelike on the wings, which are without true quills. They are unable to fly, but use their wings to aid in diving, in which they are very expert. See King penguin, under Jackass.
PEPLUM n.
A peplos. Hence: An overskirt hanging like an ancient peplos; also, a short fitted skirt attached to a waist or coat.
PER prep.
roportions of ingredients, rate or amount of interest, and the like; commonly used in the shortened form per cent. -- Per diem, by the day. [For other phrases from the Latin, see Quotations, Phrases, etc., from Foreign Languages, in the Supplement.]
PERMULATOR n.
rotating brushes, in which the exciting field is induced by the alternating current in a short-circuited magnetic core instead of being produced by an external magnet.
PERRIER n.
A short mortar used formerly for throwing stone shot. Hakluyt.
PETTICOAT n.
en, whether in politics or domestic affairs. [Colloq.] -- Petticoat pipe (Locomotives), a short, flaring pipe surrounding the blast nozzle in the smoke box, to equalize the draft.
PHONOGRAPHY n.
A representation of sounds by distinctive characters; commonly, a system of shorthand writing invented by Isaac Pitman, or a modification of his system, much used by reporters.
PHRASE n. 2 definitions
A short, pithy expression; especially, one which is often employed; a peculiar or idiomatic turn of speech; as, to err is human.
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