Pitch"er (?), n. [OE. picher, OF. pichier, OHG. pehhar, pehhri; prob.
of the same origin as E. beaker. Cf. Beaker.] 1. A wide-mouthed, deep
vessel for holding liquids, with a spout or protruding lip and a
handle; a water jug or jar with a large ear or handle.
2. (Bot.) A tubular or cuplike appendage or expansion of the leaves of
certain plants.
American pitcher plants, the species of Sarracenia. See Sarracenia. --
Australian pitcher plant, the Cephalotus follicularis, a low
saxifragaceous herb having two kinds of radical leaves, some
oblanceolate and entire, others transformed into little ovoid pitchers,
longitudinally triple-winged and ciliated, the mouth covered with a lid
shaped like a cockleshell. -- California pitcher plant, the
Darlingtonia California. See Darlingtonia. -- Pitcher plant, any plant
with the whole or a part of the leaves transformed into pitchers or
cuplike organs, especially the species of Nepenthes. See Nepenthes.
Pitch"er*ful (?), n.; pl. Pitcherfuls (&?;). The quantity a pitcher
will hold.
Pitch"-faced` (?), a. (Stone Cutting) Having the arris defined by a
line beyond which the rock is cut away, so as to give nearly true
edges; -- said of squared stones that are otherwise quarry-faced.
Pitch"fork` (?), n. A fork, or farming utensil, used in pitching hay,
sheaves of grain, or the like.
Pitch"fork`, v. t. To pitch or throw with, or as with, a pitchfork.
He has been pitchforked into the footguards.
G. A. Sala.
Pitch"i*ness (?), n. [From Pitchy.] Blackness, as of pitch; darkness.
Pitch"ing, n. 1. The act of throwing or casting; a cast; a pitch; as,
wild pitching in baseball.
2. The rough paving of a street to a grade with blocks of stone.
Mayhew.
3. (Hydraul. Eng.) A facing of stone laid upon a bank to prevent wear
by tides or currents.
Pitching piece (Carp.), the horizontal timber supporting the floor of a
platform of a stairway, and against which the stringpieces of the
sloping parts are supported.
Pitch"-ore` (?), n. (Min.) Pitchblende.
Pitch"stone` (?), n. (Geol.) An igneous rock of semiglassy nature,
having a luster like pitch.
Pitch"work` (?), n. The work of a coal miner who is paid by a share of
his product.
Pitch"y (?), a. [From 1st Pitch.] 1. Partaking of the qualities of
pitch; resembling pitch.