politic 
pelitiC (po-lit'ik), <i. l< ft**, a.] I" <li-''t.. 
i'<iiii|><>sfd of tine sediment or mud. According ti 
the clasaincatiim .if Niiiimann. the fraKniimtiil or dt-liitiil 
rock M divi.lr.l int. i ,.*.,,/,,/.>. ii',i,in,iiii.: :m.l irlUif, 
according a they in. m:i.li- n|i "I .-..arse sand, tine sand, 
and mud respectively. The word has been but rarely 
iiHi-il by m'lilDKliitu wriilnii in Kngllsh. 
pell 1 (]!), " l< Ml'- /"' /"". < OF.pel,peau, 
\<\ in mi = 1'r. //, /'//< = Sp. fiii'l == I'g. ///< = 
ll. in-Ill-. < h. iH-llia = Cr. "jn'a, a skin, liiilr, 
= E. /W, <i- v. Cf. //!.] 1. A skin or hide. 
2t. Fur. 
Arayd with prllyi ftyr the old gyse. ^ 
Coventry Mylteria, p. 240. (HattiuxU.) 
3. A roll of parchment Clerk of the Pellt, an 
officer of the exchequer In RnKland who entered every 
teller 1 ! bill In a parchment roll called pellu receptorum 
Their sklnnei are no thlcke that a pellet of an haruue- 
tnuh will scarce pearce them. HaUvyCi Voyage*. " &. 
Hi. i. iniixt >.ni have a plummet formed round, 
Like to the pellet of a blrdlng bow. 
./. /Vimy(Arber's Eng. Garner, I. 153). 
3. In her., a roundel sable: same as ogrciuft. 
4. In nmis., a small pellet-shaped boss. T. 
/.>.,.._ 5. In ,lrc.ratire art, a small rounded 
projection, usually one of many. Compare purF*. 
Border of raised acanthus leave* alternated with pellet*. 
Smdaget Cataliyur, No. 3 (), p. 17. 
Pellet molding. In Komanajue arch., a molding orna- 
mented with small hemispherical projections.-- Pellet 
ornamentation, ornament by means oi small rounded 
projections or bosses, sonietlmes arranged In ornamental 
patterns, especially used In pottery, where the pelleti are 
composed of small balls of clay affixed to the body of the 
pelma 
species of the genus; 7'. Peniuylaaitiaa Is the American 
pellitory. Alio called hammerwort and hdxinr. 
2. The feverfew, CkfyMn&MMtM rarMMMMl 
I-,.,, fcrrrl'cir); :,;-.,. 1 !L- >! li'T '-lir;, -a nl h-n, nn,-, 
of the group often classed as Pyretlirum. The 
sneezewort, Achillea 1'tarmica, has been called 
wild or baxtnrit illiti>ry. 
pellitory-of-Spain, . A composite plant, A*a- 
riirlux f'n i-il It i n in. growing cliicfly in Algeria. 
IU root Is a powerful irritant, used u a slalagogue and 
local stimulant. The maiterwort, Peuadanvm (Imprra- 
loria) OtlruUtivm, has sometime* received this name. 
pell-mell 1 (pel'mel' ). adv. [Formerly also itel- 
/./. ,,,11,1-mctty; < ME. pellemelle, pelleymelley, 
< OF. pellemelle, pmlemttle, also meslmesle, also 
p<-ll<-<i mi-Hi; in-Ill i'i mi ^'.i-itl'-et mesle(F. ptle- 
eer! n a parce 
(roll of receipts), and also made another roll called pellin 
exituum (roll of disbursements). The office la now abol- 
ished. 
pellet (pel), r. t. [< ME. pellen; appar. a var. 
of pallet*, E. ]tit!P>, knock, etc. : see pall?. Ct. 
L. piUi-i-r, drive, urge, whence ult. E. compel, 
vessel after it Is molded. 
pellet (pel'et), t>. t. [<pellet,.] To form into 
pellets or little balls. 
oft did she heave her napkin to her erne, . . . 
Laundering the tilken figures In the brine 
That seaaon'd woe had ptUeUd In Ura. 
u. jfismtusj ,. a j ^. ^- , ., ------ ---- ~ f ~~i Slunk- 1 Lover Complunt, 1. la. 
expel, impel, etc., and Mitel, mdMfc, etc , and p e u e tan jet. Seeiefl. 
peRUtpCjMB*.] To dn ve forth; knock about. peHeter't, . A Middle English form of pelter*. 
pelleter-'t,' . A Middle English form of pellitory. 
pelletierine (pel-e-ter'in). n. [Named after the 
French chemist Bertraud Pelletier (1761-97).] 
An alkaloid from pomegranate-bark, CgHuRO. 
It Is a dextrogyrate Ifquid, boiling at 185' C. Its pharnia- 
codynamlc properties resemble somewhat those of curarl. 
The tannate la used aa a tttniacid 
Knr well I wat I saw them run, 
Both south and north, when they begun 
To pelt and mell, and kill and fell, 
With muskets snell, and pistols knell, 
And some to hell. 
Battle iif Sheriff-Muir (Child's Ballads, VII. 280). 
pelFt, " An obsolete variant otpeel*. 
pell* (pel), . [Prob. a dial. var. of pill*.] A 
hole or deep place, such as that formed under 
a cascade or waterfall. [Prov. Eng.] 
pell 4 (pel), . t. [< pell*, .] To wash into 
pells or pools. [Prov. Eng.] 
pellack, pellock- (pel'ak, -ok), n. [Formerly 
also pellok; < Gael, pelog, a porpoise (T).] A 
porpoise. 
Pellsea (pe-le'a), n. [NL. (Link, 1841), so called 
in allusion to tne dark-colored stipe ; < Gr. ve ^<if, 
dark, dusky.] A genus of polypodiaceous ferns, 
the cliff-brakes, with intramargiual son, and 
broad membranous iudusia, which are formed 
of the reflexed margin of the frond. More than 
50 widely distributed species are known, of which about 
a dozen are natives of North America. See cliff-brake (un- 
der brakes) and liulian'ii-dreain. 
pellage (pel'aj), n. [< pelH + -age. Cf. pel- 
n/li . ] Custom or duty paid for skins of leather. 
pellagra (pe-la'grS,), . [= It. pellagra, < NL. 
in-lliii/i-ii. < L. pellis, skin, + Gr. aypa, a catch- 
ing.]' An endemic disease of southern Europe, 
characterized by erythema, digestive derange- 
ment, and nervous affections. It exhibits vernal 
recurrences or exacerbations, and is frequently 
fatal after a few years. Also spelled pelagra. 
In the maize-porridge, which is called "polenta," and 
which is the chief food of a certain class of Italian work- 
ing-men, there Is formed, by putrefaction, during the hot 
months, a poison which causes pellagra. 
Pop. Sci. Ho., XXIX. 253. 
pellagrin (pe-la'grin), n. [< pellagra + -ml.] 
One who is afflicted with pellagra. 
The extent of the ravages of this affection may be esti- 
mated from the fact that, of 500 patients in the Milan Lu- 
untie Asylum in 1827, one-third were pellayrini. 
Chamber*'* Encyc. 
pellagrous(pe-la'grus),a. [< NL. pellaffrosus, < 
liclldi/ni, pellagra: BOQ pellagra.] 1. Of orper- 
tainiiig to pellagra; resembling pellagra; de- 
rived from pellagra: as. pellagrous insanity. 
2. Affected with pellagra. 
A large number of pettagrmis peasants end their days In 
lunatic asylums In a state of drivelling wretchedness or 
raving madness. Encyc. Brit., XVIII. 477. 
pella-mountaint (iH'1'ii.-mouu'tan), n. [Also 
l>nliiill-miiiintiiin; appar. corruptions of the ML. 
luiiiic I'lili-iiiinii minttaiium."] The wild thyme, 
'I'liyiHun tii'i-pHllum : perhaps also a species of 
germander, /'. in-rinm Folium. 
pellet, " An obsolete form of paU 1 , 
pelleret, See pellurc. 
pellet (pel'et), n. [< ME. pelet, pelot, a ball, 
bullet (of stone), < OF. pelote, pelotte, a ball, 
a tennis-ball, F. pelote = Pr. pelota, pilota = 
Sp. pelota = Pg. pellota = It. pillotta, a ball, 
pad, pincushion, < ML. pilota, pelota (after OF.), 
a little ball, < L. pila, a ball : see pile 3 .] 1. A 
little ball, as of wax, dough, paper, lead (a shot), 
etc. : as, homeopathic pellets. 
Wljsly resceyiiyng rlst a litil at oonys, as oon litil pelot, 
and preue therby how it worchith. thanne another tyme 
ij. at oonys, if it be nede so that the mater be a litil di- 
gostid and litil e^stid. 
Boole i'J Vitiate Eurnce. (ed. Furnivall), p. 80. 
2f. A stone ball formerly used as a missile, par- 
ticularly from a sling; also, a cannon-ball; a 
bullet. 
As swifte as pelet out of gonne. 
Chaucer, House of Fame. 1. 1643. 
llle UUlimlvC IB unuu UB n itcina^niv, 
pellet-powder (pel'et-pou'der), n. A Bntmh 
cannon-powder molded into pellets of various 
sizes according to the service it is to perform, 
now largely superseded by pebble-powder. 
Pellian equation. The indeterminate equation 
<u:2 = y't + 1: named from the English mathe- 
matician and diplomatist John Pell (1610-85). 
Pellibranchia (pel-i-brang'ki-a), n. pi. [NL., 
< L. pettis, skin, + bronchia, gills.] A suborder 
of nudibranchiate gastropods without distinct 
gills, respiration being effected by the skin. It 
was named by J. E. Gray for the families Lima- 
pontiidx and Fhyllirhoidte. 
Pellibranchiata (pel-i-brane-ki-a'ta), n. pi. 
[NL., neut. pi. of pellibranclwtus : see pellt- 
branchiate.] A suborder or superfamily of nudi- 
branchiates destitute of branchias, whose func- 
tions are assumed by the skin. It comprises the 
families Limapontudx, Klytiidx, and Rhodopidm. Essen- 
tially the same aa Pellibranchia and Drrmatopnoa. 
pellibranchiate (pel-i-brang'ki-at), a. and n. 
[< NL. peltibranchiatug, < L. pellis, skin, + 
branehise, gills.] I. a. Breathing by means of 
the skin; of or pertaining to theFellibranchiata. 
H. . A pellibranchiate mollusk. 
pellicant, . An obsolete form of pelican. 
pellicle (pel'i-kl), n. [= F. pellicnle = Pr. pel- 
licula = Sp. pelicula = Pg. pellicvla = It. pellt- 
cula, pellicola, < L. pellicula, a small skin, dim. 
of pellis, skin, hide : see pell 1 .'] \. A little or 
thin skin; a cuticle; a film; a scum: as, the 
nacreous pellicle of some shells ; the coaly pel- 
licle of many fossil plants; the filmy pellicle or 
scum of infusions in which infusorial animal- 
cules or microscopic fungi develop. 
The kernell or woodle substance within the date Is di- 
vided from the Iteshie pulp and meat thereof by many 
white pelliclet or thin skins betweene. 
Holland, tr. of Pliny, xiii. 4. 
We are acquainted with a mere pellicle of the globe on 
which we live. Moat have not delved six feet beneath the 
surface. Thoreau, Walden, p. 856. 
2. In chem., a thin crust formed on the surface 
of saline solutions when evaporated to a certain 
degree. This pellicle consists of crystallized 
saline particles. 3. In bot., same as cortical 
layer (which see, under cortical). 
pellicula (pe-lik'u-la), n. [NL., < L. pellicula, 
a small skin : see pellicle.] In bot., same as 
cortical layer (which see, under cortical). 
pellicular (pe-lik'u-lftr), a. K L. pellicula, a 
small skin (see pellicle), + -ar.] Having the 
character or quality of a pellicle ; formed by or 
forming a pellicle ; cuticular; filmy. 
The pollen tube of Phanerogamia sometimes acquires a 
length of two or more Inches without ever departing from 
the homogeneous pellicular structure. 
Hen/rcy, Elem. Botany, 1 58. 
Pellicular enteritis, pseudomembranous enteritis, 
pelliculate (pe-lik'u-lat), a. [< L. petticula, a 
small skin, + -ate 1 ."] Covered with a pellicle, 
pellipert, . An erroneous form otpelleter, for 
nelter-. Yuri,- Plays, Int., p. xxiv. 
pellitory (pel'i-to-ri), n. [< ME. pelleter, peri- 
tory, etc.; a corruption of paritory.] 1. A per- 
ennial weed, Parietaria officinalis; specifically, 
the wall-pellitory, a small bushy plant growing 
on old walls, etc. , throughout the cooler parts of 
Europe and Asia. The name is extended to all the 
confuse), appar. < OF. pelle, pale, a fire-shovel, 
+ mesler, mix, meddle (see pale*, peel*, and 
mel); but perhaps in part, like WOT. mesle- 
mesle (which occurs), a mere redupl. of ntesler, 
mix: cf. E. mishmash, misty-musty, unA mingle- 
mangle, similar reduplications.] With con- 
fused or indiscriminate violence, energy, or 
eagerness; indiscriminately; promiscuously; 
confusedly; in a disorderly mass or manner. 
That oo peple srayte thourgh the tother all ptttey mtUty. 
full deslrouse eche other to apalre and to damage with 
her power. Merlin (E. B. T. 8.), lit SOT. 
Continue this alarum, fight peU-mtU; 
Fight, kill, be damn'd ! Lutt't Dominion, IT. 8. 
The gates set open and the portcullis vp, 
Let 's pell-mell In, to stop their passage out, 
Heywood, 1 Edw. IV. (Works, ed. Pearson, I. 20). 
Put 'em pell-mell to the sword. 
B. Jonfon, Every Man In his Humour, 111. 1. 
De Vargas kept his men concealed until the fugitives 
and their pursuers came clattering veil mell Into the glen. 
li.in-l. III. .11:1. l:t, p. ;'. 
pell-mell 2 t, A variant of pall-mall. 
pellock 1 (pel'ok), n. [A var. of pellet with sub- 
stituted dim." term, -ock.] A ball; a bullet. 
See pellet. [Scotch.] 
pellock 2 , 'i. See pellack. 
pellucid (pe-lu'sid), a. [= F. pelluade, 
pellucidus, perlucidus, transparent, < pellucere, 
perlucere, shine through, be transparent, <per, 
through, + Ittcere, shine: see lucent, lucid.] 
1. Transparent. 
Such a diaphanous, pellucid, dainty Body as you see a 
Crystal-glass is. HoveU, Letters, I. L 2. 
2. Admitting the passage of light, but not prop- 
erly transparent; translucent; limpid; not 
opaque; in entom., transparent, but not neces- 
sarily colorless; translucent. 
More pellucid streams, 
An ampler ether. Wordnmrth, Laodamla. 
Still its water is green and pellucid as ever. 
Thonau, Waldan, p. 195. 
3. Figuratively, clear ; transparent to mental 
vision. 
A lustrous and pellucid soul. 
Browning, Ring and Book, II. 35. 
Pellucid zone, the zona pelluclda ; the Inclosing mem- 
brane of the mammalian ovum. It Is of considerable 
thickness and strength, and under high magnification 
shows a radlately striated structure, whence It la also 
called zona radiata. 
pellucidity (pel-u-sid'i-ti), n. [= F. pellu- 
cidite,< l>.jtellucidita(t-)g,perlucidita(t-)n, trans- 
parency, s pellucidus, perlucidus, transparent: 
see pellucid.] Same as pellucidness. 
The chymlsta are never quiet till the heat of their fancy 
have calcined and vitrified the earth into a crystalline 
pellucidity. Dr. II. More, Immortal, of Soul, 111. 9. 
The pellucidity of the air. 
Locke, Elem. of Nat. Phlloa., vt 
pellucidly (pe-lu'sid-li), adv. Transparently 
or translucently. 
pellucidness (pe-lu'sid-nes), . The state or 
property of being pellucid : as, the pellucidness 
of a gem. 
pelluret (pel'ur), . [ME. , also pelure, peUere; 
< OF. peleuret pelure, pellure (ML. pellura), fur. 
T. pelure, rind, paring/ pel, skin, fur: see pelft.] 
Fur; fur-work; furs. 
And furryd them with armyne, 
Ther was never ntpettm half so fjroe. 
US. CantSk. fi.U. 88, t. Mi (B 
Clothed ful komly for anl and klnges spne, 
In gode clothes of gold a-grethed ful riche, 
with perrey & peUure pertelyche to the rijttes. 
'wOKamoJ Palerne (E. E. f. 8.X 1. &S. 
Als wemen bane wtlle. In there wllde yonthe, 
To fret horn with fyn perle, & thaire face paint, 
With pdur and pall & mony pronde rynges, 
Euyn set to the sight and to seme falre. 
Deitruction a} Troy (E. E. T. a), L 434. 
pelly-mellyt, adr. An obsolete form of pell- 
infill. 
pelma (pel'mft), n. ; -pl.pelmata (-ma-t). [NL., 
< Gr. jrtt/ia, the sole of the foot.] The sole; 
