Percopsis 
puftatiit). 
typical genus (if /'i-i-i'<iiixill.T. I', i/lllllllnx. of 
liic IVesii waters of tlic Suited Stairs, is the 
so-calleil trout-peroh. 
perculaced, . [A cm-mpt form of /I/-/VH///.W 
for /iiirli'ii/lixrit.] Ill /T., latticril. 
percullist, . An obsolete variant of porti-nllis. 
percunctatort (pte-kungk'tft-tor), <. [< l>. //, 
through, + finiflnlni', one who hesitates, < <;- 
turi, Jii'sitiiti 1 .] A very dilatory or habitually 
procrastinating person. 
percunctorilyt (per-kungk'to-ri-li), adv. [Ir- 
reg. (in imitation ofiirrl'iiiirtorili/) < /irrrni'( /)- 
tor + -i- + -/i/ 2 .] In a perfunctory, dilatory, 
or listless manner. 
This is be that makes men serve Ood ptnunetnrily, per- 
functorily ; to go slowly to it, to sit idly at it. 
Ren. T. Adams, Works, II. 46. (Datum.) 
percurrent (per-kur'ent), a, [< L. pereiimn ( f-)x, 
ppr. of pi'rrnrrere, riin or pass through, < /MI; 
through, + rnmre, run: sec fiirirnti.] In 1ml.. 
running through the entire length; running 
through from top to bottom, as the midrib of a 
dicotyledonous leaf, the nerve of a moss-leaf, 
or a grass-palet, etc. It notes specifically nervilles 
that traverse the entire area from one secondary or ter- 
tiary nerve to another. See nervation. 
percursory (per-ker'so-ri), . [< LL. as if "per- 
cursoriitH, < percursor, one who runs or passes 
through, < L. percurrerc, pp. percurxitx, run or 
pass through : see percurrent.] Cursory; run- 
ning over slightly or in haste, 
percuss (per-kus'), v. t. [< OF. percussir, < 
L. percussus, pp. of pereutere, strike or pierce 
through, < per, through, + quatere, shake, strike : 
see qtuuili. Cf. concuss, discuss.] 1. To strike 
against so as to shake or give a shock to ; strike. 
Thou art in our favour, 
For we do love to cherish lofty spirits, 
Such as percwut ever the earth, and bound 
With an erected countenance to the clouds. 
Beau, awl Ft., Laws of Candy, II. 1. 
2. Specifically, in med.: (a) To tap or strike 
for diagnostic purposes. See percussion, 4 (). 
When some light body, called a plesgiineter, whether a 
finger of the left hand, or a piece of wood or the like made 
for the purpose, is placed firmly on the body of the patient 
ami he is tupped through this, the act is called mediate per- 
cnKti.011, in distinction from immediate percussion, where 
the body is directly tapped. The tapping is done either 
with the tlngers of the right hand or with a small hammer. 
The sounds elicited by percussion are the most significant 
effects obtained, though the resistance felt, or pain or 
muscular contractions produced, may be of value. (o) 
To tap or strike for therapeutic purposes. See 
percussion, 4 (6). 
percussant (per-kus'ant), a. [< OF '. percussant, 
ppr. of pcrcuxxir, strike : see percuss.] in her., 
bent around and striking the side : said of the 
tail of a lion or other beast when represented 
as lashing his sides. 
percussed (per-kusf), . [< percuss + -ed3.] 
Same tLSpm-iixxmii. 
percussion (per-kush'on), . [< F. percussion 
= Pr. pcrcKtio, pcreussio = .Sp. pcrcusion = Pg. 
l>rrruxxflt> = It. percuxsione, < L. percussio(n-), 
a beating or striking, < pereutere, beat or strike 
through: see percuss.] 1. The act of percuss- 
ing. or the striking of one body against another 
with some violence ; forcible collision. 
The times when the stroke or percussion of an envious 
eye doth most hurt are when the party envied is beheld 
in glory or triumph. Bacon, Envy. 
2. The state of being percussed; the shock pro- 
duced by the collision of bodies. 3. The im- 
pression or effect of sound on the ear. 
With thy grim looks, and 
The thunder-like jMfWMlM of thy sounds, 
Thou madest thine enemies shake. 
SAa*.,Cor.,i. 4. 59. 
4. Iii nicd.: (a) In diagnosis, the method of 
striking or tapping the surface of the body for 
the purpose of determining the condition of the 
organs in the region struck. It is employed 
chiefly in the diagnosis of diseases of the lungs, 
heart, and abdominal organs, (ft) In therapeu- 
tics, tapping or striking in various ways with 
the hand or with an instrument as a therapeutic 
measure and a part of general massage. 5. In 
iiti/Kic, the production of a tone by a stroke or a 
blow, as upon any keyboard-instrument. Specifi- 
cally (a) In imiRitMl composition, the occurrence of a 
276 
4380 
dliwonant tone; the actual sounding of a discord : dint in- 
guislii-<l from I'reiKiratitm on the one hand and rwotaHm 
on thu other. <M In tin- rfrd-organ, a contrivam-'' fur 
striking a n-r-1 ;it the instant it is to !i. *OMIM|< <!. so as to 
set It In vibration promptly anil fon ibly. 1 In sfp.km>b 
by which this contrivance Is controlled Is often called the 
prrciuigvm-irttip. 
6. In jitilmixiry, the outer side of the hand; tho 
side of the hand opposite the thumb Center of 
percussion, see '!. Instrnmentsof percussion, 
musical Instruments In which the tone is pnxlucril by it 
blow or stroke from a hammer or similar iniiilfnit.'ntjSiich 
as druiiiH luul the pianoforte. Percussion-figure, in 
mineral., a figure produced In a thin plate of some crystals 
by a blow with a rather sharp point: thus, on a shirt 1.1 
mica the percussion-figure has the form of a symmetrical 
six-rayed star, two of whose ray are parallel to the pris- 
matic edges. Compare irretgure-fiijure. 
percussional (pcr-kush'on-al), n. [< i>i-i-i'itx\iii>i 
+ -/.] Pert Killing to percussion; percussive. 
percussion-bullet (per-kush'on-bulet), n. A 
bullet charged with a substance that is ex- 
plosible by percussion. 
percussion-cap (per-kush'on-kap), H. A small 
copper cap or cup containing fulminating pow- 
der, used in a percussion-lock to explode gun- 
powder. 
percussioner fper-kush'on-er), . In //-;<//.- 
ing, the workman who fits the nipple and 
other connected parts. W. 
If. dreeuer, The Gun, p. 251. 
percussion-fuse (per-kush'- 
on-fuiO, N. A detonating fuse 
so constructed that, when 
impact suddenly checks the 
motion of the projectile, the 
firing-mechanism of the fuse 
is set free to act upon the 
detonating substance, in the 
cut, a is the shell The plunger h Is 
held by a detent o, which engages a 
notch at the rear end with a force 
graduated to perm It itgrelease by the 
shock of impact, when the plunger 
U driven forward to strike and ex- 
plode a percussion-cap on the nip- 
ple -i. 'I'll-' spring i holds the plun- 
ger In engagement with the detent 
till the Instant of impact. 
percussion-grinder (per- 
kush'pn-grin'der), n, A ma- 
chine for crushing quartz or 
other hard material by a process of combined 
rubbing and pounding. L. ff. Knight. 
percussion-gun (per-kush'on-gun), n. A gun 
discharged by means of a percussion-lock. 
percussion-hammer (ptr-kush'on-hain'er), . 
A small hammer used in percussion for diag- 
nostic purposes. 
percussion-lock (per-kush'ou-lok), n. A kind 
of lock for a gun, in which a hammer strikes 
upon a percussion-cap placed over the nipple, 
and ignites the charge or the cap may be at- 
tached to the cartridge, and exploded by a 
striker without the aid of a nipple. 
percussion-match (per-kush'on-mach), w. A 
match which is ignited by percussion. 
percussipn-powder (per-kush'on-pou'der), n. 
Detonating or fulminating powder. 
percussion-primer (pfer-kusn'on-pri'mer), n. A 
primer which is ignited by percussion. See 
primer. 
percussion-Stop (per-kush'on-stop), w. See^er- 
cussioii, 5 (b). 
percussion-table (per-kush'on-ta'bl), n. In 
mcttil., a frame or table of boards on which ore 
is concentrated, the separation of the heavier 
from the lighter particles being aided by a jar- 
ring of the table by means of suitably arranged 
machinery. See joggling-table and to:e. 
percussive (per-kus'iv), a. and . [= It.per- 
cussivo; as percuss + -fee.] I. a. Of or per- 
taining to percussion or a light sharp stroke ; 
striking; striking against something. 
The first musical instruments were, without doubt, per- 
cussive sticks, calabashes, tom-toms, and were used simply 
to mark the time of the dance. 
II. Spencer, Universal Progress, p. 28. 
The perateeice tones of the oriole invite or compel atten- 
tion. The Century, XXXVIII. 234. 
II. H. Specifically, in music, an instrument of 
percussion. 
percussively (pcr-kus'iv-li), adv. In a percus- 
sive manner; by or by means of striking or 
percussion. 
percussor (per-kus'or), n. [= F. percusseur = 
Sp. i>ci-cnifor = Pg. percussor = It. percussore, < 
L. peri'iisxor. < p<-rrutere, pp. jiercuxsus, beat or 
strike through : see percuss.] One who or that 
which strikes: an agent or instrument of per- 
cussion ; one who percusses. 
percutaneous (per-ku-ta'ne-us), a. [<L.pr. 
through, -t- rntis, the skin: see 
perdition 
Passed, done, or effected through or by n 
of the skin: as, /"'"(""//> Mention. 
stimulation by the same nu'tho.1 on th. 
motor jKiintsof various digital must-let* in the human arm. 
Amer. Jour. I'nyclwl., I. 184. 
percutaneously (per-kii-ta'ne-us-li), titlr. In a 
percutaneous manner; through or by means 
of the skin. 
percuteur (F. pron. per-kU-tcr'), . [F., < / /- 
rnli r. < L. /a milt i'i , strike through: ttt / < 
MMf.j An in>trument for slow or rapid light 
percussion for therapeutic purposes, an in neu- 
ralgia and other neuroses. 
percutient (pt-r-ku'shient), a. ami . [< L. 
/H'ri-iiHi n< t-)x, ppr. of pereutere, beat or strike 
through: seepercuss.] I. a. Percussive; strik- 
ing; of or_pertaining to percussion. 
II. n. 
strike. 
That which strikes or has power to 
Where the air Is the percutient, pent or not pent, against 
a hard body, It never glreth an exterlonr Bound ; as If yon 
blow strongly with a bellowes against a wall. 
Hacon, Nat. Hist., i 190. 
percylite (per'si-lit), H. [Named after J. I'ercy, 
an English chemist and metallurgist.] A rare 
mineral occurring in sky-blue cubes: it is an 
oxyclilorid of copper. 
perdet, interj. Same as partly. Cliaucer. 
perdendo, perdendosi (per-den'do, -do-se), . 
[It., ppr. ofperdere, lose (see perdition ) ; si, it- 
self, < I/, se, itself.] In muxicj dying away; di- 
minishing in loudness : practically the same as 
morcndo. 
Perdicidae (ptr-dis'i-de), u. pi. [NL., < 1'erdU 
(Perdic-) + -idee.] The partridges and quails 
as a family of gallinaceous birds: now usually 
regarded as a subfamily 1'crdicinte. 
Perdicinse (p6r-di-si'ue), . pi. [NL., < Perdix 
(Perdic-) + -inse.] A subfamily of gallinaceous 
birds, typified by the genus Perdix, of small 
size (as compared with Tetraonime or grouse), 
with naked nostrils and scaly shanks; the par- 
tridges and quails. The term is used with varying lati- 
tude: (o)forall the birds of the character just stated; (6) 
for the Old World forms as distinguished from the Amer- 
ican Ortyffina or Odvntophirriiur ; (c) for partridges of the 
genus Perdix and its immediate congeners alone. See 
cuts under partridge and quatt. 
perdicine (per'di-sin), a. [< L. perdix (perdic-), 
a partridge, + -ine 1 .] Related to or resembling 
a partridge or a quail ; of or pertaining to the 
Perdicinse, in any sense. 
perdiclet, [ME. perdycle; origin not ascer- 
tained.] A kind of precious stone ; eaglestoue. 
Prompt. Pan., p. 394. 
perdidot, ". [Sp., = F. perdu, lost: see perdu.] 
A desperate man. Daries. 
The Duke of Ifonmouth, with his party of Perdidm, had 
a game to play which would not shew in quiet times. 
Roger North, xamen, p. 475. 
perdiet, interj. See pardy. 
perdifoil (per'di-foil), w. [Irreg. < L. perdere, 
lose, + folium, a leaf: see foil 1 .] A deciduous 
plant ; a plant that periodically loses or drops 
its leaves: opposed to evergreen. [Kare.] 
The passion-flower of America and the jasmine of Mala- 
bar, which are evergreens in their native climates, become 
perdtfoils when transplanted into Britain. J. Barton. 
perditelyt, adv. [< "perdite (< L. pcrditus, lost : 
see perdition) + -fy 2 .] In an abandoned man- 
ner; disgracefully. 
A thousand times had rather wish to die, 
Than perditly to affect one base and vile. 
Ueywood, Dialogues, ii. 
perdition (p^r-dish'ou), n. [< ME. perdicioiin, 
< OF. perdition, perdicion, T?. perdition = Sp. per- 
dition = Pg. perdi^So = It. perdizione, < LL. per- 
ditio(n-), ruin, destruction, < L. perdere, pp.per- 
ditux, make away with, destroy, waste, ruin, 
lose, < per, through, + dare, give: see date 1 .] 
1. Entire ruin; utter destruction. 
Certain tidings . . . importing the mere perdition of 
the Turkish fleet. Shut., Othello, U. 2. 3. 
Perdition 
Take me for ever, if in my fell anger 
I do not out-do all example I 
Fletcher, Bondnca, IU. 5. 
Free revelllngs, carnivals, and balls, which are the prr- 
dition of precious hours. 
Jar. Taylor, Works (ed. 1836X L 183. 
2. The condition of the lost ; the future state 
of the wicked; hell. 
Would you send 
A soul straight to perdition, dying frank 
An atheist? Brauning, Ring and Book, II. 301. 
3f. Loss or diminution. 
Sir, his deflnement suffers no perdition In you. 
Shale., Hamlet, v. >. 117. 
