peoplish 
peoplisbt (pe'plish), a. [MK. pi-plixli, piH-ptiMxh ; 
< )>fi>i>lr 4- -('.</( l.J Belonging CO the common 
people; vuL/r. 
Ve haddu, as me thnimht. in ili-Hjiitu 
livery thyngc that sunned into hiiddc, 
As rudcnesse, and ptteptutult upprtiti . 
Chaucer, Troilus, iv. 1677. 
peotomy (pe-ot'o-mi), H. [< Gr. mar, penis. + 
-roftia, < Tfiit'rn; -iiiiFiv, cut.] Amputation of 
the penis. 
pepert, A Middle English variant of pep/H-r. 
peperine(pep'e-rin), . [< It. prpi'mm, < ;/" 
/>< !///',< I ,. /'/;, popper: see y7<y '' <T. /W- 
IIIT'IIUI.] A volcanic tufa composed of well-de- 
veloped crystals or crystal fragments cement- 
ed together. The name was first given to the 
tufas of the Albau Mount, near Borne. Tufa, tuff, 
peperiite, pnzzutilana, and trass are names Riven, without 
much discrimination, to deposits consisting essentially of 
more or less finely comminuted volcanic rock, cinders, 
and ashes. 
Pcperomia (pep-e-ro'ini-S), . [NL. (Kuiz 
and Pavou, 1794), < Gr. ir'tmpi, pepper.] A 
large genus of herbaceous plants of the apeta- 
lous order Pijieracex, the pepper family, and 
the tribe I'ipercse, characterized by the single 
sessile stigma, and the two stamens with the 
anther-cells confluent into one. There are over 
400 species, found throughout warmer parts of the world, 
especially in America, from Florida to Chili and the Ar- 
gentine Republic. They are usually prostrate and fleshy 
annuals, or perennial by a creeping rootstock or tuberous 
Athene P,,ln , the Minerva Modi- 
ca") wearing the Peplum. in the 
Capitoline Mu&eutn, Rome. 
Same as peplum. J. A. 
Branch with Inflorescence of Piperomia tnagnolimfolia. 
a, a flower, showing the bract, one of the two stamens, ami the pistil ; 
/>, the fruit. 
base. They bear alternate, opposite, or whorled leaves, un- 
divided and commonly pellucid-dotted, and minute flow- 
ers In a dense or scattered spike. /'. inoculate is a dwarf 
greenhouse-plant with ornamental spotted leaves, remark- 
able for its ready propagation by leaf-cuttings. P. reseda- 
Jtora is cultivated for Its delicate spires of pink-stemmed 
white flowers. P. uia-jiutiieMw (}'. obtuttfolia) of the 
West Indies and Central and South America Is a suc- 
culent shrub with obovate or spatulate leaves and long 
curving spike-like aments. Several others, all known in 
cultivation as Peperomia, are the pepper-elder of British 
colonists. 
pepint, . An obsolete form of pippin. 
pepinneryt, . [= OF. ]>epinerie, P. pepiniere, 
a seed-plot, nursery, < pepin, kernel, pip: see 
pippin.] A garden for raising plants from 
seeds ; a nursery-garden. Halliwell. 
pepinniert, Same 
To make a good prpiiinier or nource-garden. 
Holland, tr. of Pliny, xvil. (Kncyc. Diet.) 
pepita (Sp. pron. pe-pe'ta), n. [Sp., a nugget, 
prop, a kernel, seed, pip: see pip, pi.] A lump 
of native gold ; a nugget. 
The gold is found in the form of grains or pepitas, at 
the depth of ten or twelve yards below the surface, em- 
bedded in a stratum of clay of several feet in thickness. 
Encyc. Brit., IV. 13. 
pepla, . Plural of peplum. 
peplet, a- An obsolete form of people. 
Peplis (pep'lis), H. [NL. (Linnreus, 1737), < L. 
lif/ilix, a plant, also called purcilaca (purslane), 
and another plant, also called xyce ntecoiiion or 
moron-ion a/>hrodes; < Gr. jren-^j'f, irdr/of, also 
Trtnfaov, a plant, said to be purple spurge.] A 
genus of small herbaceous plants of the poly- 
petalous order Lythritricse and the tribe AI'II- 
nuiniiu'H; known by the very short style and 
filaments, and the commonly six sepals, six or 
rarely five petals, and six stamens. There are s 
species, natives of Europe, northern Africa, and the colder 
parts of Asia. They are weak or prostrate annuals, with 
obovate or narrow leaves, and minute solitary flowers ses- 
sile in the axils. P. Portula is the water-purslane of Ku- 
rnpran brooks and wet sands. 
peplisht, '(. An obsolete spelling of peoplish. 
peplos (pep'los), H. Same HN pt-plni. 
4383 
peplum (pep'lum), n. ; pi. prpla (-lit). [L.. also 
pi-jilun, < (ir. iri-'/or (in pi. jr/rr/a, if from u 
sing. *ir(ir?jn>), a peplum i.-ec ilef.).] In HIII-. 
<:/-. coxtuuii-, a hiina- 
tion or upper gar- 
ment, in snape liki 
a voliiminotis shawl, 
worn by women, 
thrown over one arm 
and thence wrapped 
in various ways, ac- 
cording to individ- 
ual taste, around the 
body, sometimes 
even drawn over the 
head. Thegarmentwas 
so called particularly 
when of costly material 
and richly ornamented, 
as distinguished from 
the more ordinary hima- 
t i' Hi. It was frequently 
ascribed to female di- 
vinities, particularly to 
Athene, for whose statue 
in the temple of Athene 
1'lllias a rrl VHKIIlial pep- 
lum was woven every 
year by the high-born 
maidens attached for the 
term to the person of the 
pries teu. 
peplus (pep'lus), n. Same as pep 
Hyiimiutx, Italy and Greece, p. 215. 
pepo (pe'po), n. [NL., < L. pc/io (pepun-) = 
Gr. TTfjfuv, prop. oiKvof iriiruv, a large kind of 
gourd or melon not eaten till ripe (whereas 
the common O/KVO? was eaten unripe): ireiruv, 
prop, adj., also irtireipof, ripe, mellow. Hence 
((. GT.iriiruv) ult.E. pomponi,pompion,puni}>ii>n, 
pumpkin, and prob. pippin, pip^: see pumpion, 
pippin, pip 2 .] In hot., a fruit like that of the 
gourd ; a name given to the fruit of the Cucurbi- 
taceie, of which the gourd, squash, cucumber, 
and melon are familiar examples. They have a 
fleshy interior and a hard or firm rind, most of which is 
referable to the adnate calyx. They are either one-celled 
with three broad and revolute parietal placentae, or these 
placentie, borne on their dissepiments, meet in the axis, 
enlarge, and spread, unite with their fellows on each side, 
and are reflected t < > the walls of the pericarp, next to which 
the ovules are borne. Also called peponida, peponium. 
peponida (pe-pon'i-da), n. [NL., < L.pej>o(n-), 
a gourd or melon, + -trfa.] Same as pepo. 
peponium (pe-po'ni-um), n. [NL., < L.pepo(n-), 
a gourd or melon : see pepo. J Same as pepo. 
pepper (pep'er), u. [< ME. peper, pepir, piper, 
< AS. pipnr, piper = OFries. piper = D. peper = 
MLG. pepj>er, peper = OHG. pfeffar, phffer, 
MHG. phe/er, pfeffer, Gr. pfeffer = Icel. piparr 
= Sw. peppar = Dan. peber = P. poivre = It. 
pepe, perere,<. L. filter = OBulg. ptpru = Serv. 
papar (also biber, ( Turk.) = Bohem. peprsh = 
Pol. ptepr: = Buss, peretsii = Lith. pipiras = 
Lett, piparn = Hung, paprika = Turk, biber, < 
Gr. icarepi, ireirept, pepper, < Skt. pippala, the 
long pepper, also the sacred fig-tree (peepul); 
cf. pippali, the fruit of the fig-tree. Cf. Pers. 
putput, AT. fulful, pepper.] 1. The product of 
plants of the genus Piper, chiefly of P. nit/rum, 
consisting of the berries, which afford an aro- 
matic and pungent condiment. The spikes are 
gathered as the berries begin to turn red ; these berries 
are rubbed off and dried, when they form the ordinary 
black pepper. White pepper consists of the seeds of the 
same fruit allowed to ripen and deprived of their pulp ; 
or It is sometimes prepared by removing or blanching the 
outer layer of the dry black pepper. It is a milder article, 
flnding Its largest market in Chin*. Long pepper Is the 
itk Pepper ll'iffr tngrit 
taitfum). 
frai\Ki nt Piper longvm and P. Chaba. (SecCAarico.) It 
is less powerful, but a considerable article of commerce. 
Pepper is stimulant of digestion, in large doses capable 
of producing inflammation. It yields to aqueous distilla- 
tion a thin and colorless volatile oil. Ground pepper is 
rxtcniively adulterated. Pepper was known and prized 
by the ancients, and was sometimes made a medium of 
exchange. 
pepper-and-salt 
There is 3 mancrof Peper , ullcupon o Tree ; luriK/Vprr, 
blak Peper, and white Peper. NaiuIeviUe, Travels, p. \<:~. 
2. Any plant of the genus /''//; I'spi'dally, 
one that produce-* I In pepper of commerce (see 
def. 1). This is a stout ~lniili, trailing and rootinK at 
the joints or climbing on trees: the stems grow to a length 
of au feet, bearing large ovate leaves, and flowers and l r- 
ries in spikes. It is a native of forests in parts of India, 
and is everywhere cultivated In hot, damp, tropical regions. 
3. A plant of the genus Capsicum, or one of its 
pods. These pods are the source of Cayenne 
pepper, and form the green and red pe]jp'-i> 
used in sauces, etc. 
Ears of Indian com, and strings of dried apples and 
jn-;irlirs, tiuiiK in guy festoons nlniiK' the walls, mfugled 
with the gaud of red pepper*. Irfin'i, skirlrh-iiook, p. 429. 
4f. A bitter, biting drink [peppermint, Morrix], 
Ladyes simile hem such pepir brewe. 
Kinn. o/the Koe, 1. 6028. 
5. A pepper-caster: as, a pair of silver-mount- 
ed pep/irrx. [Trade use.] African pepper, (a) 
A shrub or small tree, XyhtpM (llabzelia) Jfthiopita, of 
western Africa, its fruit aromatic and stimulant, (b) In 
the West Indies, also, other plants of the genus Xylfnria. 
(c) See Caprii-tnti. AnlS6 pepper, the shrub or tree JTan- 
ttuuci/luiii schintfolium (X. Matttxchuricum), of China, etc. 
Ashantee or West African pepper. Same as Afri- 
can cttltcbs (which see, under cubeb). Bird-pepper. N8 
Capsicum. Bitter pepper, H Chinese tree or shrub, 
Kt'fulin (.\antftoxiflutn) Daniettii. Also called star-pepper. 
-Black pepper. See defs. l and 2. Bonnet-pepper. 
See Capncum. -Boulon pepper. Same as AJncan pep- 
per (a). Cayenne pepper, cherry pepper. See Capsi- 
cum. Chill pepper, (a) See pepper-tree, (b) Same as 
chilli. Chinese pepper. Same as Japanese pt-pper. 
Cubeb-pepper. see cubeb. Ethiopian pepper. Same 
as African pepper (a). Goat-pepper. See Capncum. 
Guinea pepper. *&\nvm African pepper (a). SeealsofcU- 
pepper and chilli. Jamaica pepper. Same as pimento. 
Japanese pepper, a shrub, Xanthoxylum piper/turn, 
of China and Japan, or iU fragrant pungent fruit, which Is 
used as a pepper. Java pepper, the cubeb. Long pep- 
per. See del. 1. Malabar pepper, the common pepper 
produced in Malabar, esteemed the best quality. Mele- 
gueta, malaghatta, malaguetta pepper. Same as 
yrains of paradise (which see, under yrai/ii). Migno- 
nette-pepper. See miirtumctte. Monkey pepper. 
Same as African pepper (a). Negro pepper. Same as 
African pepper (a). Poor man's pepper, (a) One of 
the pepperworts, Lfpidium campestre. (o) Same as wall- 
pepper. (Prov. F.ng.) Red pepper. See Capsicum. 
Shot-pepper, the heavier kinds of Sumatra pepper. 
Spur pepper. See Capsicum. Star pepper. Same as 
Mter pepper. Sumatra pepper, the common pepper 
produced in Sumatra, which is the cheapest quality. 
Tasmanian, Victorian pepper. See pepper-tree, 2. 
To have pepper In the nose', to behave superciliously. 
There are ful proude-herted men paciente of tonge, 
And boxome as of berynge to burgeys and to lordes, 
And to pore peple hfiti peper in the nose, 
And as a lyoun he loketh there men lakketh his werkes. 
Piers Plowman (li), xv. 197. 
To take pepper In the nose t . See nose i . 
Because I entertained this gentleman for my ancient* 
he takes pepper t" the nose, and sneezes it out upon my an- 
cient. Chapman, May-Day, ill (Hares.) 
White pepper, see def. l. wild pepper, a shrub, Vi- 
t-'.r Irij'nlin . of the East Indies, etc. (See also bell-pepper, 
betel-pepper, cherry-pepper, mountain-pepper,water-pepper.) 
pepper (pep'er), c. t. [= D. MLG. peperen = 
>1HG. phcfferoii, pfefferen, G. pfcffern = Icel. 
pipra = Sw. prppra = Dan. pebre ; from the 
noun.] 1. To sprinkle with pepper; make pun- 
gent: as, mutton-chops well peppered. 2. To 
pelt with shot or other missiles; hit with what 
pains or annoys ; also, to attack with bitter or 
pungent words. 
Behnmp them, bethnmp them, belump them, belabour 
them, pepper them. 
I'n/vharl, tr. of Rabelais, iv. 53. (Dames.) 
"I think, "cried he, "I have peppered him well! Ill war- 
milt he won't give an hour to-morrow morning to settling 
what he shall put on." Miss Bumey, Eveuna, IxxxiiL 
3f. To cover with small sores. 
And then you snarle against our simple French 
As If you had been peppered with your wench. 
Stephens, Essays and Characters (1615). (Nares.) 
4. To pelt thoroughly ; give a quietus to ; do 
for. 
I am peppered, 1 warrant, for this world. 
Shalt., R. and J., lit. 1. 102. 
Alp. Pray God there be not poison in the bowl ! 
Ale. So were I peppered. 
Chapman, Alpnonsus, Emperor of Germany, ill. 1. 
Leon. Thou art hurt. 
Lieut. I am pepper'd: 
I was r the midst of all, and bang'd of all hands. 
Fletcher, Humorous Lieutenant, 11. >. 
pepper-and-salt (pep'er-and-salf), a. and n. I. 
a. Of a color consisting either of a light ground 
(as white, drab, gray, etc.) dotted or speckled 
finely with a dark color, as black or dark gray, 
or of black or dark gray thickly and evenly 
speckled with white or light gray: said of a 
fabric or a garment. 
Half a dozen men of various ages . . . were listening 
with a look of concentrated intelligence to a man In a pep- 
per-and-Mlt dress. Grirrge Eliot, Daniel Deronda, xllL 
