in the United States of America. 505 
oe 
PACKET, To the usual definition of this word, a vessel that carries letters, 
Mr. Webster adds, “ In America, a coasting vessel for frassengers.” A 
writer in the Monthly Anthology, (for Oct. 1809, p. 262) treats this (among 
_ other instances) as “an idle attempt to exhibit a distinction” between the 
English and American significations. The word seems, indeed, to be ap- 
plied in England to vessels employed for carrying fassengers and detters. 
The term facket has been considered as an abbreviation of facket-boat, 
which Entick and other English lexicographers define, “a boat for advice 
or fassengers ;” and this definition of packet-boat is is adopted by Mr. 
Webster. 
To PACKET. “To ply with a packet.” Webst. I have never known this 
verb used in America ; nor is this signification given in the English dic- 
tionaries. It is probably a /ocal use of the word. 
PAPPOOSE, (acvented on the last syllable, ) “the Indian name of a child.” 
Webst. Hence, as some have supposed, the vulgar expression of carrying 
any thing a-foose back (for pfrickback or hickafiack,) from the custom 
among the Indian women of = their children, or biases on their 
_ backs... The te | 
To PARADE; “to a se 
of drawing up troops. £x. The general Anraited his see at such a 
place. This verb is not inthe English dictionaries, and I do not recollect 
hearing it used by Englishmen. 
PARAGRAPH. Mr. Kendall (Travels, vol. i. p- 31.) after quoting a Connec- 
ticut writer, who speaks of the faragraphe of one of the laws of that state, 
makes this note upon the word: « By faragraphs is intended sections 
or clauses.” 
PARTLY ; nearly, almost. A friend informs me that this word is thus used 
in some towns of the Middle States: His house is partly opposite, i. e. 
nearly opposite to mine. Dr. Witherspoon has taken notice of this word, 
and gives the following example: “It is fartly all gone ; it is mostly all 
gone. This (he remarks) is an absurdity or barbarism, as well as a vulgar. 
ism.” Druid, No. 6. 
912 
