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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



173 words match “BRITISH”

PENDRAGON n.
A chief leader or a king; a head; a dictator; -- a title assumed by the ancient British chiefs when called to lead other chiefs. The dread Pendragon, Britain's king of kings. Tennyson.
PILOT FLAG n.
e by a vessel desiring a pilot, in the United States the union jack, in Great Britain the British union jack with a white border.
PLIMSOLL'S MARK n.
A mark conspicuously painted on the port side of all British sea-going merchant vessels, to indicate the limit of submergence allowed by law; -- so called from Samuel Plimsoll, by whose efforts the act of Parliament to prevent overloading was procured.
PORTLAND VASE n.
mb of the Emperor Alexander Severus. It is owned by the Duke of Portland, and kept in the British Museum.
POST-CAPTAIN n.
aptain of a war vessel whose name appeared, or was "posted," in the seniority list of the British navy, as distinguished from a commander whose name was not so posted. The term was also used in the United States navy; but no such commission as post-captain was ever recognized in either service, and the term has fallen…
POUCH-SHELL n.
A small British and American pond snail (Bulinus hypnorum).
POUND n.
A British denomination of money of account, equivalent to twenty shillings sterling, and equal in value to about $4.86. There is no coin known by this name, but the gold sovereign is of the same value.
POWAN; POWEN n.
A small British lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeoides, or C. ferus); -- called also gwyniad and lake herring.
PRESIDENCY n.
One of the three great divisions of British India, the Bengal, Madras, and Bombay Presidencies, each of which had a council of which its governor was president.
PREST a.
roper. [Obs.] Tusser. Prest money, money formerly paid to men when they enlisted into the British service; -- so called because it bound those that received it to be ready for service when called upon.
PROTECTOR n.
etc. Lord Protector (Eng. Hist.), the title of Oliver Cromwell as supreme governor of the British Commonwealth (1653-1658).
PYX n.
A box used in the British mint as a place of deposit for certain sample coins taken for a trial of the weight and fineness of metal before it is sent from the mint. Mushet.
REDCOAT n.
One who wears a red coat; specifically, a red-coated British soldier.
REGIMENTAL a.
, or concerning, a regiment; as, regimental officers, clothing. Regimental school, in the British army, a school for the instruction of the private soldiers of a regiment, and their children, in the rudimentary branches of education.
RESIDENCY n.
A political agency at a native court in British India, held by an officer styled the Residentl: also, a Dutch commercial colony or province in the East Indies.
RIX-DOLLAR n.
k, Holland, Sweden,, NOrway, etc., varying in value from about 30 cents to $1.10; also, a British coin worth about 36 cents, used in Ceylon and at the Cape of Good Hope. See Rigsdaler, Riksdaler, and Rixdaler.
ROGUE n.
yarn, yarn of a different twist and color from the rest, inserted into the cordage of the British navy, to identify it if stolen, or for the purpose of tracing the maker in case of defect. Different makers are required to use yarns of different colors.
ROUGHRIDER n.
One who breaks horses; especially (Mil.), a noncommissioned officer in the British cavalry, whose duty is to assist the riding master.
ROUNDFISH n.
regonus quadrilateralis), less compressed than the common species. It is very abundant in British America and Alaska.
ROYAL n.
One of the soldiers of the first regiment of foot of the British army, formerly called the Royals, and supposed to be the oldest regular corps in Europe; -- now called the Royal Scots.
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