Polonese 
Polonese ( po-l<>-neV or -nez' ), w. [< F. 1'olonain, 
tho Polish language : see polonaise.] 1. The Po- 
lish language. 2. [i.e.] Same a,9 polonaise, 1. 
Polonian (po-16'ni-an), a. and M. [< ML. I'o- 
luiiiit (OF. J'nliiHie), Poland, + -ian.] I. a. Of 
or pertaining to Poland or the Poles; Polish. 
The hardness anil fortitude of the Polonian Army. 
MiUen, Letters of State, May Vi, 1674. 
II, ii. A Pole. Milton, Declaration for Elec- 
tion of John III. 
Polemize (po'lo-nlz), v. t. ; pret. and pp. I'olo- 
ni:rd, ppr. folonizing. [< ML. Polonia, Poland, 
+ -tee.] To render Polish in character or sym- 
pathies. Contemporary Rev., XLIX. 286. 
polony (po-16'ni), M. ; pi. polonies (-niz). [Prob. 
corrupted from Bologna (sausage).] A kind of 
high-dried sausage made of partly cooked pork. 
They were addicted to polonies; they did not disguise 
their lure for Banbury cakes ; they made bets In ginger- 
beer. Thackeray, Newcomes, xviii. 
polos (po'los), n. [< Or. fro/loc, a pivot, the vault 
of heaven, etc.] In Gr. archieol., a tall cylin- 
drical cap or head-dress, usually worn with a 
veil depending at the back and side, it is a usual 
attribute of the more powerful Oriental female deities, and 
is frequently worn by some Greek goddesses, as Perse- 
flu mi', particularly by such as have Oriental affiliations 
t Is often very similar to the modius. See cut under mo- 
diux. 
Kill-up:! sometimes holds a sceptre surmounted by a bird, 
and wears upon her head a polos, showing that she was re- 
garded at Ourtyna In the light of a powerful goddess. 
/>'. I'. Head, Historia Nuiuorum, p. 894. 
polront, polrondt, . Obsolete variants of />/- 
(Iron. 
polrose, polroze (pol'roz), n. [Cornish.] In 
mines, the pit underneath a water-wheel. Also 
written polroz. [Cornwall, Eng.] 
polska (pol'skii), n. [Sw., < 1'ol.ik, Polish : see 
Polish'*.] 1. A Swedish dance resembling 
somewhat a Scotch reel. 2. Music for such a 
dance, or in its rhythm, which is triple, and 
moderate in movement. It is usually in the 
minor mode. 
polt 1 (polt), n. [Prob. a var. of palt, pclfl. Cf. 
L. pultare, beat, Sw. bulta, beat.] A thump or 
blow. 
If he know'd I'd got you the knife, he'd go nigh to give 
me a good poll of the head. 
Mia Burney, Cecilia, 11. 9. (Danes.) 
polt-t, a. An obsolete spelling of poult. 
polt-foot, n. and a. See poult-foot. 
poltront, poltronryt, . Obsolete forms of 
poltroon, poltroonery. 
poltroon (pol-tron'), M. and n. [Formerly pol- 
tron; < F. poltrou, a coward, dastard, knave, ras- 
cal, also a sluggard, = Sp. poltron = Pg. pol- 
trtto, a coward, < It. poltrone (ML. pultro(n-), 
a coward), < poltro, lazy, cowardly, as a noun a 
sluggard, coward, cf. poltrare, poltrire, lie in 
bed, be idle, < poltro, bed, couch, < OHG. pol- 
star, bolstar, MHO. G. bolster, a pillow, cush- 
ion, bolster, quilt, = E. bolster: see bolster.] I. 
M. A lazy, idle fellow; a sluggard; a fellow 
without spirit or courage ; a dastard ; a coward. 
A'. Hen. Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmoreland. 
Cl\f. Patience is for poltroons. SAo*.,3Hen. VI.,i. 1.62. 
Out, you poltroon ! you ha'n't the valour of a grass- 
hopper. Sheridan, The Rivals, iv. 1. 
= Syn. Cracen, Dastard, etc. See coward. 
Il.t a. Base; cowardly; contemptible. 
He is like to be mistaken who makes choice of a covet- 
ous man for a friend, or relieth upon the reed of narrow 
and poltroon friendship. 
Sir T. Broicne, Christ. Mor., I. i 36. 
poltroonery (pol-tron'e-ri), . [Formerly pol- 
tronry; < F. poltronnerie (= Sp. poltroneria = 
Pg. It. poltroneria), cowardice, < poltron, a cow- 
ard: see poltroon.'] The character or nature 
of a poltroon ; cowardice ; baseness of mind ; 
want of spirit. 
You believed rather the tales you heard of our poltroon- 
'-'/. and impotence of body and mint!. 
B. Franklin, Autobiography, p. 294. 
poltroonish (pol-tron'ish), a. [< poltroon + 
-ix/i 1 .] Resembling a poltroon; cowardly. 
polverin, polverine (pol've-rin), . [< It.pol- 
rcrhio ( = Sp. polroriii = Pg.polverino),<. polrere, 
ilust. < L. pulriit (pulrer-), dust, powder: see 
l>oirtlt-r 1 .] The calcined ashes of a plant, prob- 
ably Salsola Kali, of the nature of pot- and 
pearl-ashes, brought from the Levant and Sy- 
ria, and used in the manufacture of glass. 
poly (po'li), . [Formerly also poley ; = Sp. 
Pg. It. polio, < L. poll it m, pillion, < Gr. KO)JOV, an 
aromatic plant having glaucous leaves, perhaps 
'I'l-in'riiiiii I'oliiini. < -n).i6f, gray, white, akin to 
-t'/oc or irM.fy, dusky, L. pullus, dusky, and E. 
fallow 1 , etc. : see fallow 1 .] A species of ger- 
4509 
mander, Trucrium folium, an aromatic herb of 
southern Europe. The name is also used for 
some other plants of the genus 7 ////,/. -poiy- 
mpuntain. Same as poly; also, a British plant, Cain- 
mint/in An not. 
poly-. [L.. etc., poly-, < Gr. md.v-, combining 
form of TrtMi'C, dial, iroiArf, jroA?.<if, many, much, 
neut. vo).i, as adv. much, very, many times, of- 
ten, long, etc. ; = Goth, filu = AS. fcla, E. obs. 
feel, much: see feel?.] An element in many 
compounds of Greek origin or formation, mean- 
ing 'many' or 'much.' it Is equivalent to multi- of 
Latin origin. It is sometimes, but rarely, used In compo- 
sition with a word of non-Ureek origin, as in pvlyyrootxd, 
polypage. 
polyacanthid (pol'i-a-kan'thid), a. [< polya- 
canth-ous + -id'*.] Having pluriserial adam- 
bulacral spines, as a starfish: correlated with 
monacantliid and diplacanthid. 
polyacanthous (pol'i-a-kan'thus), a. [< Gr. 
xoAvanavOos, having many thorns, used only as 
the name of a kind of thorn, < irolif, many, + 
&Kav6a, thorn, spine.] In bot., having many 
thorns or spines. Thomas, Med. Diet. 
polyacoustic (pol'i-a-kos'tik), a. and . [= 
Sp. polic listico, < Gr. Wo/rf, many, + oKovaruiof, 
of or pertaining to hearing: see acoustic.] I. 
a. Multiplying or magnifying sound. 
II. . An instrument for multiplying or 
magnifying sounds. 
polyacoustics (pol'i-a-kos'tiks), H. [PI. of poli/- 
itroutitic (see -icx).] The art or science of mul- 
tiplying sounds. 
polyact (pol'i-akt), a. [< Gr. W.ir, many, + 
oKT/'f ((IKTW-), ray.] Having numerous rays: 
specifically said of sponge-spicules of the stel- 
late kind. 
polyactinal (pol-i-ak'ti-nal), a. [< Gr. nolle, 
many, + nurii; (oivr/i'-), a ray, + -til.] Many- 
rayed; multiradiate ; in sponges, polyact. 
polyad (pol'i-ad), n. [< Gr. rro/rj, many, + 
term. -r (-an-) as in r/i/of (rptaA-), triad: see 
-ad 1 .] In rheiii., an element whose valence or 
quantivalence is greater than two, as a triad, 
tetrad, hexad, etc. 
polyadelph (pol'i-a-delf), . [< Gr. 
having many brothers, < JTO/.I'I;, 
many, + a<i< tyof, brother.] In 
bot., a plant having its stamens 
united in three or more bodies 
or bundles by the filaments. 
Polyadelphia (pol'i-a-del'fi-U), 
H. i>l. [NL. : see polyadelph,} 
In bot., the eighteenth class of 
the Linnean system, in which 
the stamens arc united by their 
filaments into three or more sets or brother- 
hoods. 
polyadelphian (pol'i-a-del'n-an), a. [< Polya- 
deli>liia + -<in.] Same as polyadelphous, 
polyadelphite (pol'i-a-del'fit), n. [< Gr. ro?.f- 
<2(!f?,^>of, having many brothers (see polyadeliih), 
+ -ite'*.] A massive brownish-yellow variety 
of iron garnet occurring in the zinc-mines in 
Sussex county, New Jersey. 
polyadelphous (pol'i-a-del'fus), a. [=F. 
polyarchy 
narrow petals, and numerous carpels each with 
only one or two ovules. The 40 species re natives 
of tropical Asia, tropical and southern Africa, and Austral- 
asia. They bear obliquely feather veined alternate leaves, 
and solitary or clmlni.il tlowers, followed by globose or 
oblong one-seeded stalked berries. See mast-tree, 2. 
polyandria (pol-i-an'dri-ft), n. [NL. : see poly- 
andry.] 1. Same as polyandry. 2. [cap.] 
[Used as a plural.] In bot., according to the 
Linnean system, a class of hermaphrodite flow- 
ering plants having more than twenty hypogy- 
nous stamens of equal length, free from each 
other and from the pistils. 
polyandrian (pol-i-an'dri-an), a. [< polyandry 
+ -an.] Same as polyandrous. 
polyandric (pol-i-an'drik), a. [= F. polyan- 
drique = Pg. polyandrico; as polyandr-y + -ic.] 
Relating to or characterized by polyandry. 
Alsoo P ' 
p. 410. 
Alsopolyandrouit. Westminster Rtr., April, 1868, 
r po 
.,AI 
, . . 
adelphe = Pg. polyadelpho = It. jioliadelfo, < Gr. 
iro/.vd6e?jpoc, having many brothers: see polya- 
delph.] In hot., having the stamens united in 
three or more bundles or parcels, as in some 
species of Hypcricum. Also polyadelphian. 
pplyadenia (pol*i-a-de'ni-a), n. [NL., < Gr. TTO- 
/tf , many, + doV/v, gland : see adenia.] Pseudo- 
leucemia. 
polyadenitis (pol-i-ad-e-ni'tis), M. [NL., < Gr. 
Tro/i'f, many, T aiqv, gland, + -itu. Cf. adeni- 
tis.] Inflammation of numerous glands. 
polyadenopathy (pol-i-ad-e-nop'a-thi), n. [< 
Gr. To/.rf, many,+ aii/v, gland, -f n-aflof, disease. 
Cf . adenopatliy.] Disease of numerous glands. 
polyadenoilS (pol-i-ad'e-nus), a. [< Gr. iraiM*;, 
many, + adqv, gland.] In hot., bearing many 
glands. Thomas, Med. Diet. 
polyaemia, . See polyliemia. 
polyaesthesia, polyesthesia ( pol ' i-es-the'si-ii), 
. [NL.. < Gr. iro).i'(, many, + oicftpo/f, sensa- 
tion.] The production, by the stimulation of a 
single point on the skin, of a sensation as if two 
or more points were stimulated: observed in 
tabes dorsualis. A \so polyxsthesis, polyest lit-six. 
polyaesthetic, a. See pnlucxtlu-tii-. 
Polyalthia (pol-i-al'thi-8), M. [NL. (Blume. 
1828), so called with ref. to its supposed healing 
properties; < Gr. xo/na/ffi/f, healing many dis- 
eases, < 7ro?if, many, + aZBaivrtv, heal (> a'tBi/ti^, 
wholesome).] A genus of polypetalous shrubs 
or trees of the order Aniiinn-rir and tribe I'no- 
neif, characterized by six thick, flat, ovate or 
polyandrion (pol-i-an'dri-on), .; pi. polyandria 
(-ft). [< Gr. iro'/vavtpiov, a place where many 
assemble, ueut. of iro~fvavfpio$, with many men, 
< iro>.i'f, many, + ainip (avAp-), man.] In Gr. 
antiq. and arrlieeol., a monument or a burial 
inclosure provided by the state for a number of 
men, usually for those of its citizens who had 
fallen in a battle. The famous "I.ion of Chssronea" 
which stood within the burial inclosure of the Thebans 
who died In the battle with I hilip of Macedon, SSS l>. c., 
was a monument of this class; and this was Itself a close 
copy throughout of that recently excavated at Thespue, 
which Is believed to have commemorated the Thespians 
who fell at I l;ll:i-:i, 479 B. C. 
polyandrious (pol-i-an'dri-us), a. In hot., same 
as I'.olyatttlroHK. 
polyandrist (pol-i-an'drist), M. [< i>olyandr-y 
+ -iW.] One who practises polyandry, 
polyandrous (pol-i-an'drus), a. [< Gr. TTO/I'OV- 
Apof, with many men. LGr. with many husl)an<ls. 
< TTo).i'f. many, + avi/p (avip-), man, male (in 
mod. bot. stamen).] 1. In hot.: (a) Belonging to 
the Linnean class I'oli/andria. (h) Having the 
stamens indefinitely numerous, at least more 
than ten. 2. In ;<>iil., having several male 
mates; polygamous, as a female animal. 3. 
In xoriolo</y, same as polyandric. 
polyandry (pol-i-an'dri), . [= F. poh/andric 
= Sp. polianilria = Pg. polyandria = u. poli- 
aii/lriit, < L(i. ito)iavApia, taken in sense of 'a 
condition of having many husbands' (in bot. 
stamens), found in sense of ' a condition of hav- 
ing many men, populousness,'< jroXiwnJpor, hav- 
ing many men: see polyandroux.] The state of 
having more husbands than onu at the same 
time; plurality of husbands. Polyandry is believed 
to have had its origin In unfertile regions, in nn endeavor 
to check the undue pressure of populatiun on the means 
of subsistence. It formerly prevailed to some extent in 
Europe, and Is now observed In Tibet, Ceylon, parts of 
India, among certain trilws In America and the islands 
of the Pacific, etc. It is sometimes limited to the mar- 
riage of the woman to two or more brothers. 
In the one type, called by M'Lennan Nalr polyandry, 
the woman remains with her own kin, but entertains at 
will such suitors as she pleases. 
W. It. Smith, Kinship and Marriage, p. 122. 
polyangular (pol-i-ang'gu-ljir), a. [< Gr. jro/.V. 
many, + L. anatilux, an angle: see angular.] 
Having many angles. 
polyantheat, n. Same as polianthea. 
Polyanthes (pol-i-an'thez), n. See foliautlirx. 
polyanthous (pol-i-an'thus), a. [< NL. polyan- 
thus, < Gr. TTo'/iaitfof, also iro?.ii^f, much-blos- 
soming, having many flowers, < iro/rr, many, + 
avdoc, a flower.] Beafingmany flowers. Tliomati, 
Med. Diet. 
polyanthus, polyanthos (pol-i-an'thus, -thos), 
. [NL., < Gr. iro'/iai'fhf, having many flowers : 
see polyanthoun.] A garden variety of Primula 
reris, most nearly allied to the variety elatior, 
the oxlip, whose flowers are umbeled on a 
common pedunele several inches high, it Is an 
old garden favorite, which has passed through countless 
subvarieties. Florists require that a good polyanthus 
should possess a strong scape, a well-fllled truss, a corolla 
with a short tube, a bright-yellow eye, and a deep, rich 
brown-crimson limb, bordered with a well denned yellow 
edging. See primrott. PolyanthUB NjirclssUjJ. See 
Xarciaiu. 
polyarchist (pol'i-iir-kist), n. [< pulyareh-y + 
-int.] One who favors polyarchy. 
Plato . . . was no polyarehiH, but a monarchist, an as- 
sertor of one supreme Ood. 
Cudvnrth, Intellectual System, p. 403. 
polyarchy (pol'i-Sr-ki), . [= F. /lolyareltie = 
Sp. jtolinrquia = Pg. pulyarchia = \\.)inliiirchia, 
< Gr. vo'/.vapx'a, the government of many. < 
. many, + apxew, rule-] A government 
by many, whether by a privileged class (aris- 
tocracy) or by the people at large (democnn- y : 
any government by several rulers. 
