Payse (?), v. t. To poise. [Obs.] Spenser.
Pay"tine (?), n. (Chem.) An alkaloid obtained from a white bark
resembling that of the cinchona, first brought from Payta, in Peru.
Pea (?), n. [OF. peis. See Poise.] The sliding weight on a steelyard.
[Written also pee.]
Pea, n. (Naut.) See Peak, n., 3.
Pea, n.; pl. Peas (#) or Pease (#). [OE. pese, fr. AS. pisa, or OF.
peis, F. pois; both fr. L. pisum; cf. Gr. &?;, &?;. The final s was
misunderstood in English as a plural ending. Cf. Pease.] 1. (Bot.) A
plant, and its fruit, of the genus Pisum, of many varieties, much
cultivated for food. It has a papilionaceous flower, and the pericarp
is a legume, popularly called a pod.
When a definite number, more than one, is spoken of, the plural form
peas is used; as, the pod contained nine peas; but, in a collective
sense, the form pease is preferred; as, a bushel of pease; they had
pease at dinner. This distinction is not always preserved, the form
peas being used in both senses.
2. A name given, especially in the Southern States, to the seed of
several leguminous plants (species of Dolichos, Cicer, Abrus, etc.)
esp. those having a scar (hilum) of a different color from the rest of
the seed.
The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or less closely
related to the common pea. See the Phrases, below.
Beach pea (Bot.), a seashore plant, Lathyrus maritimus. -- Black-eyed
pea, a West Indian name for Dolichos sphÊrospermus and its seed. --
Butterfly pea, the American plant Clitoria Mariana, having showy
blossoms. -- Chick pea. See Chick-pea. -- Egyptian pea. Same as
Chick-pea. -- Everlasting pea. See under Everlasting. -- Glory pea. See
under Glory, n. -- Hoary pea, any plant of the genus Tephrosia; goat's
rue. -- Issue pea, Orris pea. (Med.) See under Issue, and Orris. --
Milk pea. (Bot.) See under Milk. -- Pea berry, a kind of a coffee bean
or grain which grows single, and is round or pea-shaped; often used
adjectively; as, pea-berry coffee. -- Pea bug. (Zoˆl.) Same as Pea
weevil. -- Pea coal, a size of coal smaller than nut coal. -- Pea crab
(Zoˆl.), any small crab of the genus Pinnotheres, living as a commensal
in bivalves; esp., the European species (P. pisum) which lives in the
common mussel and the cockle. -- Pea dove (Zoˆl.), the American ground
dove. -- Pea-flower tribe (Bot.), a suborder (PapilionaceÊ) of
leguminous plants having blossoms essentially like that of the pea. G.
Bentham. -- Pea maggot (Zoˆl.), the larva of a European moth (Tortrix
pisi), which is very destructive to peas. -- Pea ore (Min.),
argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in round grains of a size of a
pea; pisolitic ore. -- Pea starch, the starch or flour of the common
pea, which is sometimes used in adulterating wheat flour, pepper, etc.
-- Pea tree (Bot.), the name of several leguminous shrubs of the genus
Caragana, natives of Siberia and China. -- Pea vine. (Bot.) (a) Any
plant which bears peas. (b) A kind of vetch or tare, common in the
United States (Lathyrus Americana, and other similar species). -- Pea
weevil (Zoˆl.), a small weevil (Bruchus pisi) which destroys peas by
eating out the interior. -- Pigeon pea. (Bot.) See Pigeon pea. -- Sweet
pea (Bot.), the annual plant Lathyrus odoratus; also, its many-colored,
sweet-scented blossoms.
Pea"bird` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The wryneck; -- so called from its note.
[Prov. Eng.]
Pea"bod*y bird` (?). (Zoˆl.) An American sparrow (Zonotrichia
albicollis) having a conspicuous white throat. The name is imitative of
its note. Called also White- throated sparrow.
Peace (?), n. [OE. pees, pais, OF. pais, paiz, pes, F. paix, L. pax,
pacis, akin to pacere, paciscere, pacisci, to make an agreement, and
prob. also pangere to fasten. Cf. Appease, Fair, a., Fay, v., Fang,
Pacify, Pact, Pay to requite.] A state of quiet or tranquillity;
freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose; specifically: (a)
Exemption from, or cessation of, war with public enemies. (b) Public
quiet, order, and contentment in obedience to law. (c) Exemption from,
or subjection of, agitating passions; tranquillity of mind or
conscience. (d) Reconciliation; agreement after variance; harmony;
concord. "The eternal love and pees." Chaucer.
Peace is sometimes used as an exclamation in commanding silence, quiet,
or order. "Peace! foolish woman." Shak.
At peace, in a state of peace. -- Breach of the peace. See under
Breach. -- Justice of the peace. See under Justice. -- Peace of God.
(Law) (a) A term used in wills, indictments, etc., as denoting a state
of peace and good conduct. (b) (Theol.) The peace of heart which is the
gift of God. -- Peace offering. (a) (Jewish Antiq.) A voluntary
offering to God in token of devout homage and of a sense of friendly
communion with Him. (b) A gift or service offered as satisfaction to an
offended person. -- Peace officer, a civil officer whose duty it is to
preserve the public peace, to prevent riots, etc., as a sheriff or
constable. -- To hold one's peace, to be silent; to refrain from
speaking. -- To make one's peace with, to reconcile one with, to plead
one's cause with, or to become reconciled with, another. "I will make
your peace with him." Shak.
Peace, v. t. & i. To make or become quiet; to be silent; to stop. [R.]
"Peace your tattlings." Shak.
When the thunder would not peace at my bidding.
Shak.
Peace"a*ble (?), a. [OE. peisible, F. paisible.] Begin in or at peace;
tranquil; quiet; free from, or not disposed to, war, disorder, or
excitement; not quarrelsome. -- Peace"a*ble*ness, n. -- Peace"a*bly,
adv.
Syn. -- Peaceful; pacific; tranquil; quiet; mild; undisturbed; serene;
still. -- Peaceable, Peaceful. Peaceable describes the state of an
individual, nation, etc., in reference to external hostility, attack,
etc.; peaceful, in respect to internal disturbance. The former denotes
"in the spirit of peace;" latter; "in the possession or enjoyment of
peace." A peaceable adjustment of difficulties; a peaceful life, scene.
Peace"break`er (?), n. One who disturbs the public peace. --
Peace"break`ing, n.
Peace"ful (?), a. 1. Possessing or enjoying peace; not disturbed by
war, tumult, agitation, anxiety, or commotion; quiet; tranquil; as, a
peaceful time; a peaceful country; a peaceful end.
2. Not disposed or tending to war, tumult or agitation; pacific; mild;
calm; peaceable; as, peaceful words.
Syn. -- See Peaceable.
--Peace"ful*ly, adv.. -- Peace"ful*ness, n.
Peace"less, a. Without peace; disturbed. Sandys.
Peace"mak`er (?), n. One who makes peace by reconciling parties that
are at variance. Matt. v. 9.
--Peace"mak`ing, n.
Peach (?), v. t. [See Appeach, Impeach.] To accuse of crime; to inform
against. [Obs.] Foxe.
Peach, v. i. To turn informer; to betray one's accomplice. [Obs. or
Colloq.]
If I be ta'en, I'll peach for this.
Shak.
Peach (?), n. [OE. peche, peshe, OF. pesche, F. pÍche, fr. LL. persia,
L. Persicum (sc. malum) a Persian apple, a peach. Cf. Persian, and
Parsee.] (Bot.) A well-known high-flavored juicy fruit, containing one
or two seeds in a hard almond-like endocarp or stone; also, the tree
which bears it (Prunus, or Amygdalus Persica). In the wild stock the
fruit is hard and inedible.
Guinea, or Sierra Leone, peach, the large edible berry of the
Sarcocephalus esculentus, a rubiaceous climbing shrub of west tropical
Africa. -- Palm peach, the fruit of a Venezuelan palm tree (Bactris
speciosa). -- Peach color, the pale red color of the peach blossom. --
Peach-tree borer (Zoˆl.), the larva of a clearwing moth (∆geria, or
Sannina, exitiosa) of the family ∆geriidÊ, which is very destructive to
peach trees by boring in the wood, usually near the ground; also, the
moth itself. See Illust. under Borer.
Peach"-col`ored (?), a. Of the color of a peach blossom. "Peach-colored
satin." Shak.
Peach"er (?), n. One who peaches. [Low] Foxe.
Pea"chick` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The chicken of the peacock.
Peach"y (?), a. Resembling a peach or peaches.
Pea"cock` (?), n. [OE. pecok. Pea- in this word is from AS. pe·, pwa,
peacock, fr. L. pavo, prob. of Oriental origin; cf. Gr. &?;, &?;, Per.
tus, twus, Ar. twu&?;s. See Cock the bird.] 1. (Zoˆl.) The male of any
pheasant of the genus Pavo, of which at least two species are known,
native of Southern Asia and the East Indies.
The upper tail coverts, which are long and capable of erection, are
each marked with a black spot bordered by concentric bands of brilliant
blue, green, and golden colors. The common domesticated species is Pavo
cristatus. The Javan peacock (P. muticus) is more brilliantly colored
than the common species.