plum 
pen. See def. 2, and blood-plum (i)). -Java plum, the 
jamholana. Madagascar plum. See Eart Indian jxwm, 
Malabar plumTthe jamrosade or rose-:ipjile. Mola 
plum, In the region "1 th'- /.nmbesi, Pariiutnum .WiiWa, 
which yields very oily two-celled stones called mabo-teedt. 
-Myrobalan plum. See cherry plum. Natal plum, 
an evergreen shrub, Caruso graitdijtora of the Apocyna- 
our. Pigeon plum, (a) See piyeon-plum. (b) In sierra 
Leone, either of two species of t'Arywila/imtM, C. rlUpticiu 
and C. luleui Port Arthur plum, a small handsome Taa- 
manian tree, Cenarrhenes nitida, the foliage smooth and 
bright-green, the drupe Inedible. Queensland plum. 
i in-. 1,1 1. 1. Rough-skiuned plum. > I //m/i /Vimi. 
Saffron plum. .Same as downward plum. Sapodilla 
plum. SeeAckrat<uidSapodaia. Seaside plum. Same 
as mountain plum. jWest Indies.) Sebesten plum. 
See Cnrdia and tebegten. Sour plum, sweet plum. See 
Oicriua, 1. Spanish plum, one of the hog-plums (Spon- 
diat purpurea), also Mainmsa hunting, both West Indian 
and South American. St. Jullen plum, a variety of the 
common plum known as Juliana, yielding part of the 
French plums. Tamarind plum, a leguminous tree, 
Dialium iiidum, whose fruit has a delicious pulp resem- 
bling that of the tamarind. Tasmanian plum. Same 
as Port Arthur plum. Wild -goose plum, an improved 
variety of the Chickasaw, saia to have been raised from 
a stone found in the crop of a wild goose. Wild plum, 
anvundomestlcated plum. Specifically (n) ThePrunut 
gpinosa. See def, 2. (b) In eastern North America, the 
wild yellow or red plum, or Canada plum, P. Americana. It 
has a well-colored fruit with pleasant pulp, but tough acerb 
skin. It is common along streams, etc., and sometimes 
planted, (c) lu western North America, P. fitbcordaia, 
whose red fruit, which U large and edible, is often gath* 
ered. (d) In South Africa, Pappea Capensii. (e) In New 
South Waled, a tree, Sideroxylon aurtralis, with drupaceous 
fruit, sometimes very tall, having a hard, prettily marked 
wood, available for cabinet purposes. See also Podot irpus. 
(See also gingerbread-plum, hoy-plum, horse-plum, mmden- 
plum, mountain-plum, olive-plum.) 
plum 2 ! (plum), adv. and a. An obsolete spelling 
of plumb 2 . 
pluma (plo'mft), n.; pi. plunwe (-rae). [L. : see 
plume.] In ornith., a plume or feather of pen- 
naceous structure; a contour-feather, as dis- 
tinguished from a down-feather ; a quill-feather 
or penna: opposed to plumule. 
plumaceous (plij-ma'shius), a. [< NL. 'pluma- 
ceus, < L. pluma, plume : see plume.] Having 
the character of a pluma ; pennaceous, as a fea- 
ther: distinguished from plumulaceous. 
plumage (plo'maj), . [< F. plumage (= Sp. 
plumaje = Pg. ptumagem = It. piumaggio), fea- 
thers, < plume, feather: see^ume.] The fea- 
thery covering of birds; feathers collectively; 
ptilosis. See feather and pteri/losin. 
Will the falcon, stooping from above, 
Smlt with her varying plumage, spare the dove? 
Pope, Essay on Man, 111. 64. 
Autumnal plumage. Sec autumnal. Laced plumage. 
See lacing, s. - Nuptial plumage. See nuptial. 
plumaged (plb"majd), a. [< plumage + -ed 2 .] 
Covered with plumage; feathered: usually in 
composition with a qualifying term: as, full- 
plumayed. 
plumailct, . [ME. plomayle; < OF. plumail. 
a plume, plumage, < plume, plume : see plume.] 
Plumage. 
They plucked the plomayle ffrom the pore skylines, 
And schewed her signes Hor men sbulde dredc 
To axe ony mendls Ifor her mys dedls. 
Kichard the Kedelem, ii. 82. 
plumassaryt (pl<Hnas'a-"), " [Prop."/ma- 
sery, < F. plumamierie, the feather-trade (also 
feathers collectively), < plumassier, a dealer in 
ordresserof feathers: see pi 'u muggier.] A plume 
or collection of ornamental feathers. 
plumassier (plO-ma-ser'). . [Formerly also 
plumusier; < F. plumas- 
irier, a dealer in or dress- 
er of feathers, < plume, 
feather, plume : see 
Illume.] One who pre- 
paresordealsin plumes 
or feathers for orna- 
mental purposes. See 
The couerings of his tent 
. . . areallof irold, adorned 
with stones of great price, 
and with the curious worke- 
manshlp of plumaiieri. 
llauuyt'i Voyaget, I. 2SO. 
plumate (plfl'mat), n. 
[< L. /iliiiiifitnn, pp. of 
plumnre, feather, < plu- 
i, feather: see ;>/"". ] 
In rntom., resembling a 
plume: said of a hair 
or bristle when it bears 
smaller hairs Plumate 
antenna, an aristate anten- 
na with the arlata covered 
with fine hairs, as in many 
flies. 
Plumatella (pls-nm- 
tel'ft), n. [NL. (La- 
marck), dim., < L. plu- 
Plttmattlla rtftnt ; a tingle 
polvpid in its cell or case, tnagni- 
netf. a, ectocyst; i. endoejrst; 
m, calyx at base of tentacles, q. 
on the lophophure, or oral disk ; 
*. mouth ; / esophagus ; f. , 
stomach ; h. intestine : f, anus ; 
M, muscle : w, Dtwis g-anfflioo ; 
. . statoblasti; f. funlcuTus, or 
gauroparietal band. 
4566 
malax, plumate : see plumate.] The typical 
genus of /'lunitttellidfp,n&ving a tubular cceno?- 
cium and pergamentaceous ectocyst, as P. re- 
pens. See also cut under Poly;u. 
Plumatellidae (pl6-ma-tel'i-de), n.pl. [NL., < 
I'lumatflla + -ida.] A family of phylactoUe- 
matous polyzoans, typified by the genus Plu- 
matrlla. They are fresh-water polyzoans of various forms, 
branching or massive, but always fixed. There are several 
genera. See cut* under Plumatella and polyzoarium. 
plumb-t, . An obsolete spelling of plum 1 . 
plumb 2 (plum), H. [Early mod. Eng. also plomb; 
< Ml-;. /</<>/;', < OF. plom, plomb, F. plomb, lead, 
a plummet, = Pr. plom = Sp. plomo = Pg. chum- 
bo = It. piombo, < L. plumbum, lead (plumbum 
album or eandidum, ' white lead,' tin, plumbum 
nigrum, 'black lead'), a leaden ball, a leaden 
pipe, a scourge with a leaden ball on the end 
of it ; cf . Gr. udAv/lof, uAfafioc, u&xjiSot, lead (see 
molybdena). Hence ult. (< L. plumbum) E. plum- 
met, plumber, plump 2 , plunge, plumbago, etc.] 
1 . A mass of lead attached to a line, used to 
test the perpendicularity of walls, etc. ; a plum- 
met. 2. The position of a plumb or plummet 
when freely suspended ; the vertical or perpen- 
dicular Out of plumb, not vertical. 
plumb 2 (plum), a. [An ellipsis of in, plumb. Cf. 
plumb 2 , adv.] 1. True according to a plumb- 
line; vertical. 
I ... cannot take a;VimiMift oat of it, for my soul. 
Sterne, Tristram Shandy, ix. 13. 
2. Of persons, upright in character or conduct ; 
thoroughgoing. 
Neither can an opposition, neither can a ministry be al- 
ways wrong. To be a plumb man therefore with either is 
an infallible mark that the man must mean more and worse 
than he will own he does mean. 
Richardson, Clarissa llarlowe, IV. 262. (Daviet.) 
plumb 2 (plum), adv. [Formerly also plum; an 
adverbial use of plumb 2 , n. ; in part an ellipsis 
of in plumb. Cf. plump 2 , adv.] 1 . In a vertical 
direction ; in a line perpendicular to the plane 
of the horizon; straight down. 
Instantly the stony storm of Hail 
Which flew direct a-front, direct now falls 
Plumb on their heads, and cleaues their souls and cauls. 
St/lvetter, tr. of Du Bartas's Week*, ii.. The Captaincs. 
You might mistake it for a ship, 
Only it stands too plumb upright 
Lowell, Appledore. 
2. Exactly; toanicetv; completely: as, he hit 
the target plumb in the bulrs-eye. [Colloq., 
U. S.] 3. Downright; entirely; altogether. 
[Colloq., U. 8.] 
Sal, Sal, my heart ar' plum broke ! 
The Century, XXXVI. 900. 
plumb 2 (plum), f. t. [Formerly also plum; < 
plumb 2 , n.] 1. To adjust by a plumb-line; 
set in a vertical position : as, to plumb a wall or 
a building. 
The Genius trims our lamps while we sleep. It plumbs 
us by day and levels us by night. Alcatt, Tablet*, p. 201. 
2. To sound with or as with a plummet, as the 
depth of water. 
Where, red and hot with his long journey, He 
Plummed the cool bath of th' Atlantic Sea. 
J. Beaumont, Psyche, iv. 58. 
1 consulted the most experienced seamen upon the depth 
of the channel, which they had often plumbed. 
Su>\fl, Gulliver's Travels, L 6. 
3. To ascertain the measure, dimensions, ca- 
pacity, or the like, of ; test. 
He did not attempt to plumb his Intellect. liulirer. 
I should have plumbed the utmost depths of terrified 
boredom. Fartter, Dickens, xllx. 
4. To supply, as a building, with lead pipes for 
water, sewage, etc. 
Plumbaginacese (plum-baj-i-na'se-e), n. pi. 
[NL. (Lindley, 1835), < Plumbago (-gin-) + 
-aces.] Same as Plumbaginefp. 
Piumbagineae (plum-ba-jm'e-e), n. pi. [NL. 
(Ventenat, 1794), < Plumbago (Plumbagin-) + 
-ex.] An orderof dicotyledonousgamopetalous 
plants, the leadwort family, of the cohort Pri- 
ntnlules, characterized by a tubular or funnel- 
shaped calyx with five, ten, or fifteen ribs, five 
stamens opposite the five equal corolla-lobes, 
five styles, and a free one-celled ovary with one 
ovule pendulous from a long central stalk (funi- 
culus) which rises from the bottom of the cell. 
Both in It* ovary and Its farinaceous albumen it Is unlike 
all other gamopetalous orders. It Includes 8 genera, of 
which Plumbago is the type, and from 200 to 270 species, 
all hut 20 of which are contained In the large genera 
StaKce, AcanthoHmon, and Armeria. They are maritime 
herbs, natives especially of the Mediterranean region, with 
a few widely diffused. They are commonly smooth stem 
leas plants, with densely tufted or rosulate leaves, and a 
branching Inflorescence bearing dry rigid bract* and flow- 
ers usually having a n*r violet, blue, or yellow corolla, 
with a calyx of a different color. 
Plumb bob*. 
a, plumb-bob in common use, made 
of brass, with cap to attach cord, and 
common lead 
plumbiferous 
plumbaginous (plum-baj'i-nus), a. [< L. plum- 
bago (-gin-), plumbago, + -out.] Resembling 
plumbago; consisting of or containing plum- 
bago, or partaking of its properties. 
plumbago (plum-ba'go), n. [< L. plumbago. 
black-lead, molybdena, also a plant, leadwort, 
< plumbum, lead: see plumb 2 .] 1. Black-lead: 
graphite. See graphite*. 2. [cap.] [NL. 
(Tournefort, 1700).] A genus of plants, the 
leadworts, of the order Plumbagineje and tribe 
Plumbagea, characterized by a glandular calyx 
with five short erect teeth, a salver-shaped 
corolla with slender tube, free stamens, and 
five styles united into one nearly to the top. 
The 10 species are natives of warm climates, extending 
to southern Europe and central Asia. They are usually 
perennial herbs, with long branches, or partly climbing, 
bearing alternate clasping leaves, and spikes of blue flow- 
ers (or of other colors) at the end of the branches. Sev- 
eral species, bearing the name leailirort, are In common 
cultivation ; another, P. Kandens, a trailing white-flow- 
ered species, is native to 
the south of Florida, ex- 
tending thence to Brazil, 
and known, like P. Euro- 
pxa, as toothtrort, from 
the use to which Its caus- 
tic leaves and roots are 
fiit. P. roiea is used in 
ndi.-i to produce blisters. 
plumb-bob (plum'- 
bob), . A conoid- 
shaped metal bob or 
weight attached to 
the end of a plumb- 
line. See also cut 
under plumlt-rule. 
plumbean (plum'- 
be-an), <Z. [(.plumbe- iron plumb-bob; 'j,' com 
oif+ -an.] Of, per- plumb - bob with " lre core - 
taining to, or resembling lead; leaden; hence, 
dull; heavy. 
There will be a plumbean flexible rule. 
Elfa, Knowledge of Divine Things, p. 411. 
plumbeous (plum'be-us), a. [< L. plumbeus, of 
or belonging to lead, < plumbum, lead: see 
plumb 2 .] 1. Leaden; heavy. 
Attend and throw your ears to mee . . . till I have en- 
doctrinated your plumbeout cerebrosities. 
Sir P. Sidney, Wanstead Play, p. 622. (Daviet.) 
2. Lead-colored; metallic gray. Plumbeous 
falcon. See falcon. 
plumber (plum'er), . [Formerly also plum- 
mer; < ME. plummer, plomere, < OF. plombier, 
F. plombier = Sp. plomero = Pg. chumbeiro = 
It. piombajo, Olt. piombaro, < LL. plumbarius, a 
worker in lead, a plumber, prop. adj. (sc. arti- 
fei), L. plumbarius, pertaining to lead. < plum- 
bum, lead: see plumb 2 . Cf. OF. plombeur = 
Olt. piombatore, < ML. plumbator, a plumber, 
< L. plumbare, solder with lead, < plumbum, 
lead: see plumb 2 .] One who works in lead; es- 
pecially, one who fits lead pipes and other ap- 
paratus for the conveyance of gas and water, 
covers the roofs of buildings with sheets of lead, 
etc. 
Take thenne a plummert wire that Is enyn and streyte 
& sharpe at the one ende. 
Juliana Bernert, Treatyse of Fysshynge, fol. 3. 
Early in the morning will I send 
To all the plumbert and the pewterers, 
And buy their tin and lead up. 
B. Jonton, Alchemist, II. 1. 
plumber-block (plum'er-blok), n. A metal box 
or case for supporting the end of a revolving 
shaft or journal. It Is adapt- 
ed for being bolted to the frame 
or foundation of a machine, and 
Is usually furnished with brass 
bearings for diminishing thefrlc- 
ti"ii of the shaft, and a movable 
cover secured by bolts for tight- 
ening the bearings as they wear. 
Also plummer-block, plummer- 
box, pwne-block. 
plumbery (plum'er-i), n. 
[Also flummery ; < F.jitoni- 
berie, t., lead-making, lead-works, < L. phim- 
baria, sc. offlcina, lead-works, also (LL.) /'////- 
barium, neut., a place to keep leaden vessels in ; 
(plnmbarius, pertaining to lead: see plumber.] 
1. Works in lead collectively ; manufactures of 
lead. 
Whose shrill salnt's-bell hangs on his lovery. 
While the rest are damned to the plumbery > 
Bp. UaU, Satires, V. I. 120. 
2. A place where plumbing is carried on. 3. 
The business of a plumber. 
plumbic (plum'bik), a. [< L. plumbum, lead, + 
ic.] Of or pertaining to lead; derived from 
lead: as, /ilnmbic acid. 
plumbiferous (plum-bif'e-rus), n. [< L. plum- 
bum, lead, + /err? = E. bear*.] ' 
lead. 
IMumber-block. 
hrilifil; 4, cap; . t, 
bolls; r, oil hole. 
