Chapter Peastone to Peculiarity of P by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

and abbots, and sometimes also by canons. - -

Pectorialfins, or Pectorials (Zoöl.), fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under Fin. — Pectorial rail. (Zoöl.) See Land rail (b) under Land. — Pectorial sandpiper (Zoöl.), the jacksnipe (b).

Pectoral
(Pec"to*ral) n. [L. pectorale a breastplate, neut. of pectorials.]

1. A covering or protecting for the breast.

2. (Eccl.) (a) A breastplate, esp. that worn by the Jewish high person. (b) A clasp or a cross worn on the breast.

3. A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs.

Pectorally
(Pec"to*ral*ly) adv. As connected with the breast.

Pectoriloquial
(Pec`to*ri*lo"qui*al) a. [Cf. F. pectoriloque.] Pertaining to, or of the nature of, pectoriloquy.

Pectoriloquism
(Pec`to*ril"o*quism) n. Pectoriloquy.

Pectoriloquous
(Pec`to*ril"o*quous) a. Pectoriloquial.

Pectoriloquy
(Pec`to*ril"o*quy) n. [L. pectus, -oris, the breast + loqui to speak: cf. F. pectoriloquie.] (Med.) The distinct articulation of the sounds of a patient's voice, heard on applying the ear to the chest in auscultation. It usually indicates some morbid change in the lungs or pleural cavity.

Pectose
(Pec"tose`) n. [Pectic + cellulose.] (Chem.) An amorphous carbohydrate found in the vegetable kingdom, esp. in unripe fruits. It is associated with cellulose, and is converted into substances of the pectin group.

Pectosic
(Pec*to"sic) a. (Chem.)Of, pertaining to, resembling, or derived from, pectose; specifically, designating an acid supposed to constitute largely ordinary pectin or vegetable jelly.

Pectostraca
(||Pec*tos"tra*ca) n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. fixed + shell of a testacean.] (Zoöl.) A degenerate order of Crustacea, including the Rhizocephala and Cirripedia.

Pectous
(Pec"tous) a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or consisting of, pectose.

Pectus
(||Pec"tus) n.; pl. Pectora [L., the breast.] (Zoöl.) The breast of a bird.

Pecul
(Pec"ul) n. See Picul.

Peculate
(Pec"u*late) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peculated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Peculating.] [L. peculatus, p. p. of peculari to peculate, akin to peculium private property. See Peculiar.] To appropriate to one's own use the property of the public; to steal public moneys intrusted to one's care; to embezzle.

An oppressive, . . . rapacious, and peculating despotism.

Burke.

Peculation
(Pec`u*la"tion) n. The act or practice of peculating, or of defrauding the public by appropriating to one's own use the money or goods intrusted to one's care for management or disbursement; embezzlement.

Every British subject . . . active in the discovery of peculations has been ruined.

Burke.

Peculator
(Pec"u*la`tor) n. [L.] One who peculates. "Peculators of the public gold." Cowper.

Peculiar
(Pe*cul"iar) a. [L. peculiaris, fr. peculium private property, akin to pecunia money: cf. OF. peculier. See Pecuniary.]