Chapter Peter to Pettish of P by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Peter to Pettish

Peter
(Pe"ter) n. A common baptismal name for a man. The name of one of the apostles,

Peter boat, a fishing boat, sharp at both ends, originally of the Baltic Sea, but now common in certain English rivers. — Peter Funk, the auctioneer in a mock auction. [Cant, U.S.] — Peter pence, or Peter's pence. (a) An annual tax or tribute, formerly paid by the English people to the pope, being a penny for every house, payable on Lammas or St.Peter's day; — called also Rome scot, and hearth money. (b) In modern times, a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics to the private purse of the pope. — Peter's fish (Zoöl.), a haddock; — so called because the black spots, one on each side, behind the gills, are traditionally said to have been caused by the fingers of St. Peter, when he caught the fish to pay the tribute. The name is applied, also, to other fishes having similar spots.

Peter
(Pet"er) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Petered ; p. pr. & vb. n. Petering.] [Etymol. uncertain.] To become exhausted; to run out; to fail; — used generally with out; as, that mine has petered out. [Slang, U.S.]

Peterel
(Pet"er*el) n. (Zoöl.) See Petrel.

Peterero
(Pet`e*re"ro) n. (Mil.) See Pederero.

Peterman
(Pe"ter*man) n.; pl. Petermen A fisherman; — so called after the apostle Peter. [An obs. local term in Eng.] Chapman.

Petersham
(Pe"ter*sham) n. [Named after Lord Petersham.] A rough, knotted woolen cloth, used chiefly for men's overcoats; also, a coat of that material.

Peterwort
(Pe"ter*wort`) n. (Bot.) See Saint Peter's-wort, under Saint.

Petiolar
(Pet"i*o*lar Pet"i*o*la*ry) a. [Cf. F. pétiolarie.] (Bot.) Of or pertaining to petiole, or proceeding from it; as, a petiolar tendril; growing or supported upon a petiole; as, a petiolar gland; a petiolar bud.

Petiolate
(Pet"i*o*late Pet"i*o*la`ted) a. (Bot. & Zoöl.) Having a stalk or petiole; as, a petioleate leaf; the petiolated abdomen of certain Hymenoptera.

Petiole
(Pet"i*ole) n. [F. pétiole, fr. L. petiolus a little foot, a fruit stalk; cf. pes, pedis, a foot.]

1. (Bot.) A leafstalk; the footstalk of a leaf, connecting the blade with the stem. See Illust. of Leaf.

2. (Zoöl.) A stalk or peduncle.

Petioled
(Pet"i*oled) a. Petiolate.

Petiolulate
(Pet`i*ol"u*late) a. (Bot.) Supported by its own petiolule. Gray.

Petiolule
(Pet"i*o*lule) n. [Cf. F. pétiolule.] (Bot.) A small petiole, or the petiole of a leaflet.

Petit
(Pet"it) a. [F. See Petty.] Small; little; insignificant; mean; — Same as Petty. [Obs., except in legal language.]

By what small, petit hints does the mind catch hold of and recover a vanishing notion.

South.

Petit constable, an inferior civil officer, subordinate to the high constable. — Petit jury, a jury of twelve men, impaneled to try causes at the bar of a court; — so called in distinction from the grand jury. — Petit larceny, the stealing of goods of, or under, a certain specified small value; — opposed to grand larceny. The distinction is abolished in England. — Petit maître[F., lit., little master.] A fop; a coxcomb; a ladies' man. Goldsmith. — Petit serjeanty (Eng. Law), the tenure of lands of the crown, by the service of rendering annually some implement of war, as a bow, an arrow, a sword, a flag, etc.