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A train or series of kites on one string and flying tandem, used for attaining great heights and for sending up instruments for meteorological observations or a man for military reconnoissance; also, a kite of such a train.

niture, etc., as of a state apartment; rich and elegant robes worn by men of rank; -- chiefly in the plural. [Obs.] Lords in paraments on their coursers. Chaucer. Chamber of paraments, presence chamber of a monarch.

Something reserved to a wife, over and above her dower, being chiefly apparel and ornaments suited to her degree.

, but not quite, to the midrib, or the base of the blade; -- said of a leaf, and used chiefly in composition; as, three-parted, five-parted, etc. Gray.

ituated at the bases of the anterior wings of lepidopterous insects. See Illust. of Butterfly.

In common usage, the species in general or collectively; a peafowl. Peacock butterfly (Zoöl.), a handsome European butterfly (Hamadryas Io) having ocelli like those of peacock. -- Peacock fish (Zoöl.), the European blue-striped wrasse (Labrus variegatus); -- so called on account of its brilliant colors. Called also co…

y mixing ground fresh roasted peanuts with a small quantity of water or oil, and used chiefly as a relish on sandwiches, etc.

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.

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.]…

A style of four-legged table in vogue in England, chiefly in the later Georgian period.

eathers, 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.

wise or prudent only in small matters; saving small sums while losing larger; -- used chiefly in the phrase, penny wise and pound foolish.

By the day; substantively (chiefly U. S.), an allowance or amount of so much by the day.

udgment; decided; dictatorial; dogmatical. Be not too positive and peremptory. Bacon. Briefly, then, for we are peremptory. Shak.

ther; to waste away. I perish with hunger! Luke xv. 17. Grow up and perish, as the summer fly. Milton. The thoughts of a soul that perish in thinking. Locke.

Any insect of the genus Perla, or family Perlidæ. See Stone fly, under Stone.

uit 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.), a…

Any flying marsupial of the genera Petaurus, Phalangista, Acrobata, and allied genera. See Flying mouse, under Flying, and Phalangister.

A rough, knotted woolen cloth, used chiefly for men's overcoats; also, a coat of that material.

a, 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 Mothe…