PAT 



PAT 



ing to the extremes, which are very 

 broad. 



PATELLA, in anatomy, a bone which 

 covers the fore-part of tlie joint of the 

 knee, called also rotula, and popularly the 

 kneepan. 



PATELLA, in natural history, limpet, a 

 genus of the Vermes 1'estacea : animal a 

 limax : shell univalve, subconic, shaped 

 like a bason ; without a spine. This is a 

 very numerous genus, containing between 

 two and three hundred species, divided 

 into sections. A. Furnished with an in- 

 ternal lip; shell entire. B. With the 

 margin angular, or irregularly toothed. 



C. With a pointed, recurved tip or crown. 



D. Very entire, and not pointed at the tip 

 or crown. E. With the crown or tip per- 

 forated. The most worthy of notice are 

 the following : P. vulgata, of Europe, 

 with rough prominent striae, and sharply 

 orenated edges ; vertex pretty near the 

 centre ; the edges often in old subjects 

 are almost smooth. P. pellucida, with a 

 transparent shell, marked longitudinally 

 with rows of rich blue spots : the vertex 

 placed near one edge ; inhabits the sea 

 yocks of Cornwall, England. P. grseca, 

 \rith an oblong shell, perforated vertex, 

 striated roughly to the edges. It inhabits 

 fche west of England. This genus was 

 well known to the ancient Greeks, from 

 whom we learn that it was used for the 

 table, and that it was found adhering to 

 the rocks. 



PATENT, something that stands open 

 or expanded ; thus a leaf is said to be 

 patent when it stands nearly at right an- 

 gles with the stalk. 



PATEXT, or Letters Patent, are writings 

 sealed with the great seal of England, by 

 which a man is authorized to do, or to 

 enjoy, any thing, which of himself he 

 could not. They are so called on account 

 of their form, being open, with their seal 

 affixed, ready to be exhibited for the con- 

 firmation of the authority delegated by 

 them. Letters patent for new inven- 

 tions are obtained by petitions to the 

 crown : they go through many offices, 

 and are liable to opposition, on account 

 of the want of novelty, &c. and if obtain- 

 ed, and it can be proved that the inven- 

 tion was not new, or had been made pub- 

 lic previously to the granting the patent, 

 they may be set aside. A patent, at the 

 lowest cost, and when no opposition is 

 given to it, will, for fees of office, speci- 

 fication, 8cc. cost for the three branches 

 of the United Kingdom about three hun- 

 dred pounds. 



PATRIOT, " a sincere and unbiassed 



friend to his country ; an advocate for ge- 

 neral civilization, uniting in his conduct 

 through life moral rectitude with politi- 

 cal integrity. Such a character is seldom 

 found in any country ; but the specious 

 appearance of it is to be seen every 

 where, most especially in Europe. It is 

 difficult to say how far the term can be 

 used in a military sense, although it is 

 not uncommon to read of a citizen sol- 

 dier,' and a * patriot soldier.' Indivi- 

 dually considered, the term may be just, 

 but it is hardly to be understood collec- 

 tively. A celebrated English writer has 

 left a treatise, intituled, " The Patriot 

 King ; by which he means the first ma- 

 gistrate of a country who acts up to the 

 genuine principles of its constitution. It 

 is devoutly to be wished, (human nature 

 being so constituted as to require coer- 

 cion) that the application of military force 

 could always be in the hands of a patriot 

 king, who 'is the first soldier in the land, 

 and would of course be entitled to the 

 appellation of a patriot soldier. The con- 

 vulsed state of Europe is such, that no 

 country can do without soldiers. When 

 they are employed to defend, or protect 

 their native land, they are patriot sol- 

 diers." See James's Military Dictiona- 

 ry. 



PATROL, in war, a round or march 

 made by the guards, or watch, in the 

 nig-ht-time, to observe what passes in the 

 streets, and to secure the peace and 

 tranquillity of a city or camp. The pa- 

 trol generally consists of a body of five 

 or six men, detached from a body on 

 guard, and commanded by a serjeant. 

 Patrols are formed out of the infantry, as 

 well as the cavalry. When a weak place 

 is besieged, and there is reason to ap- 

 prehend an assault, strong patrols are or- 

 dered to do duty ; those on foot keep a 

 good look out from the ramparts, and 

 those that are mounted take care of the 

 outworks. 



PATRON, both in the canon and 

 common law, signifies him that hath the 

 gift of a benefice or parsonage. 



PATRONYMIC, among grammarians, 

 is applied to such names of men and 

 women as are derived from those of pa- 

 rents or ancestors. Patronymics are de- 

 rived, 1. From the father, as Pelides, i. e. 

 Achilles, the son of Peleus. 2. From 

 the motlie r, as Philyrides, i. e. Chiron, 

 the son of Philyra. 3. From the grand- 

 father on the father's side, as JEacides, 

 i. e, Achilles, the grandson of JEacus. 4. 

 From the grandfather by the mother's 

 side, as Atlantiades, i. e. Mercury, the 



