potato 
Wild potato, in Jamaica, /jmn/ra/fliifi'n'afa, a tuber-bear- 
Wild potato, in Jamaica, /jmn/ra/fliifi'n'afa, a tuber-bea 
ing plant, unlike the sweet potato in its climbing hahlt. 
potato-beetlefpo-tii'to-be *tl), n. Acbrysomelid 
beetle, the notorious Doryphora decemlineata, 
which up to 1855 or 1856 lived in the Rocky 
Mountain region, feeding upon the wildNo/anum 
rnnti-iitiiiii, 1ml which, as the cultivated potato 
reached its habitat, increased enormously and 
began to spread to the east. In 1874 It reached the 
Atlantic coast at several points, and it has since been a pest 
In almost the entire country. It has several times made 
Its way to Europe, but has been stamped out. Both larva 
and beetle feed upon the leaves of the potato, anil the 
pupa Is formed in the earth at the foot of the plant. There 
are three generations annually, and the perfect beetles 
hibernate. The most common and effective remedy Is 
Paris green. See cut under beetle-. 
potato-bing (po-ta'to-bing), . A heap of po- 
tatoes. [Scotch.] 
Fotatn-l/ini/i are snugged up frae skalth 
Of coming Winter's biting frosty breath. 
burnt, Brigs of Ayr. 
potato-blight (po-ta'to-blit), . See potato-rot. 
potato-bogle (po-t&'to-bo'gl), n. A scarecrow. 
[Prov. Eng. and Scotch.] 
potato-bread (po-ta' to-bred), n. A bread made 
of potatoes which have been boiled, pressed till 
they are dry, beaten up, kneaded with wheat- 
flour, aniseed, and yeast, and then baked. 
potato-bug (po-ta'td-bug), . Same & potato- 
beetle. 
potato-digger (po-ta'to-dig'er), n. An imple- 
ment, resembling a plow, used to remove pota- 
toes from the ground. Some of these Implements 
simply leave the jwtatoes on the surface, others screen 
the earth from the tubers, and other more complicated 
machines remove the potatoes from the soil, divest them 
of adherent earth, and deposit them in a receptacle. 
potato-disease (po-ta'to-di-zez*), . See po- 
tato-rot. 
potato-eel (po-ta'to-el), n. A small threadworm 
or nematoid, of the family AnguMulidse, infest- 
ing the potato. 
potato-fern (po-ta'to-fern), n. A New Zealand 
fern, Marattiafraxinea. its rootstock Is a rounded, 
hard, fleshy mass, as large as the head, roasted and eaten 
by the natives, who call It para. 
potato-fingert (po-t't6-fiug''g6r), . A long 
thick finger, like a sweet potato: used in 
loose, contemptuous sense. It is otherwise ex- 
plained as 'a provocative.' [Rare.] 
How the devil Luxury, with his fat rump and potato- 
ftnyer, tickles these together ! Shot., 1, and C., v. 2. Ml. 
potato-fungus (po-ta'to-fuug'gus), M. Seeyi- 
tato-rot. 
potato-grant (po-ta'to-grant), n. A patch of 
land for growing vegetables, formerly granted 
by the owner to each of his slaves. Bartlett. 
[West Indies.] 
potato-hook (p6-ta't6-huk), . A hand-tool 
with bent fork-like tines, used for digging pota- 
toes from the ground. 
potato-mold (po-ta'to-mold), w. Same as po- 
tato-rot. 
potato-murrain (po-t&'to-mur'an), w. The po- 
tato-rot. 
potato-oat (po-ta'to-ot), . A variety of the 
common oat. See oat, 1 (a). 
potato-oil (po-tii'td-oil), w. Same as oil of po- 
taloi'n (which see, under potato). 
potato-onion (po-ta'to-un'yon), n. See Egyp- 
tian niii, in, under onion. 
potato-pen (po-ta'to-pen), . \ant., a wooden 
compartment or pen on deck, built with a view 
to thorough ventilation, for keeping potatoes 
and other vegetables during a voyage. 
potato-planter (po-ta'to-plan'ter), n. An im- 
plement for planting seed-potatoes and cover- 
ing them with soil. A planting-share plows a furrow, 
Into which the potatoes are dropped by an automatic de- 
vice, and a following covering-share turns the soil over 
them. 
potator (po-ta'tgr), n. f= OF.potateur = li.po- 
tiiturt; < L.potator, a drinker, (potare, pp.pota- 
titn. drink: see potation.'] A drinker. 
Barnabee, the illustrious patator, saw there the most un- 
becoming sight that he met with in all his travels. 
Southey, The Doctor, xllv. (Darin.) 
potato-rot (po-ta'to-rot), M. A very destruc- 
tive disease of the potato, caused by a para- 
sitic fungus, J'hytoplithora infestans. It seems to 
have been Introduced from South America, about the year 
184O, and since that time has been the cause of very serious 
losses, sometimes Involving almost the entire crop. The 
fungus attacks the stem and leaves as well as the tubers. 
and when confined to the leaves and stem is usually called 
pntato-bli'tht. On the leaves it first appears as pale-yel- 
lowish spots, which soon turn brown and finally black, In- 
dicating the total destruction of the tissues. On the tu- 
bers the parasite attains a considerable growth within tin- 
tissues before there is any external manifestation of it:. 
pir-i-nee. After a time depressed spots appear, and tin- 
skin covering these dies and becomes discolored. I "nder- 
1 .149 
lying these spots the tissue will he fonnd to be dark-col- 
ored to a considerable depth. The flesh In the center of 
the tuber may remain for 
some time healthy and nor- 
mal, but In the end It also 
decays, with either dry or 
wet rot. See I'hytophthortt 
and mildcic. 
potatory (pd'ta-to-ri), 
a. [< LL. piitatnrinx, 
belonging to drinking, 
< L. potator, a drinker, 
< /Hitiin; pp. piitiiliix. 
drink: see potation.'] 
Potable; drinkable. 
[Rare.] 
I attempted the soup, and 
. . . helped myself to the 
potatory food with a slow 
dignity that must have per- 
fectly won the heart of the 
solemn waiter. 
Rulmr, I'elham, xxxlx. 
potato-scoop (po-ta'- 
to-skc'ip), n. A naiid- 
screen in the form of a 
grated shovel for tak- 
ing up potatoes which 
have been dug by a po- 
tato-digger. The soil 
potencee 
Its work, the stuff Is discharged Into stone or earthen- 
ware chests having line strainers at the bottom, when 
the b1e*chlng-lli|iild Is drained off. When a solution of 
chlorln In water Is used, It I* added In proper quantity 
to the stock after washing, and the latter, after sufficient 
treatment. Is drained aa above described. 
. 
pot-cheese (pot'ches), M. See ckeesei. 
potcher i>rhVr), n. Same 
Trantvenc Section of Laf of 
Potato (.YtfAtwuM /MiVrvjwiMl, 
showing the hyplue ramifying 
-. 
Silts through the prat- coimiium, which has MMied from 
infr l.ara wlii..|i J.ituin * ^t 01 "* 1 ' hiyhly m<*tfn.flerl i ; A, 
ing-DarS, WU1CU detain hatrofthelVir J, .1 leaflet, half 
tilt) tUDCrs. natural nUe. showing the dark 
potato-spirit (po-ta'to- SSfi.?" 1 
spir'it), ii. An alcohol 
distilled from potatoes: it is made chiefly in 
Germany.-potato-splrltoll. Seeofl. 
potato-sugar (po-ta'to-shug'Kr), M. A sugar 
obtained from potatoes. 
potato-vine (po-ta'to-vin), H. The potato-plant, 
especially the part above ground. [U. 8.] 
Wild potato-vine. See Ipomma and man-ofthe-earth. 
pot-barley (pot'bar'li), . See barley 1 . 
pot-bellied (pot'bcl'id), a. Having a promi- 
nent belly; abdominous. 
He appears to be near forty ; a little pot-bellied and thick- 
sliouldered, otherwise no bad figure. 
a rail, To Mason. (Latham.) 
pot-belly (pot'bel'i), . 1. A protuberant 
belly. 2. A person having a protuberant 
belly. 
He will flnd himself a forked straddling animal, and a 
pot-belly. A iliiit/uiot anil Pope. 
3. The lake-trout, fialrelimm ( f'rw/irwmrr ) iiti- 
maycunli. [Lake Huron.] 
pot-boiler (pot'boi'ler), M. 1. A work of art or 
literature produced merely "to keep the pot 
boiling" that is, for the sake of providing the 
necessaries of life. 
His I Raff's] very fertility Is a misfortune; . . . writing 
pot-bailen has injured the development of a delicate feel- 
ing for what is lofty and refined. 
Grow'* Did. Hunt, III. e. r >. 
Murlllo executed a few portraits about the time he was 
painting pot-boiler* for sale at fairs and to sea-captains. 
The American, XIV. SOI. 
2. A housekeeper. Compare pot-mailer, pot- 
walloper. Hallnrcll. [Prov. Eng.] 
pot-boiling (pot'bpi'ling), n. The practice of 
producing pot-boilers; working for a living 
rather than for love of art. 
Most earnestly Is It to be hoped that a writer who has 
the faculty displayed in this book will not. like so many 
of his contemporaries, dissipate It In pot-bailing on a colos- 
sal scale. The Academy, July 20, 1889, p. 34. 
pot-boy (pot'boi), M. A boy or young man who 
has the charge of beer-pots, (a) An attendant on 
a bar; a young man who assists the barmaid In serving 
customers with porter, ale, or beer. (6) One who carries 
beer or ale In pots to customers, or for sale to passers by 
I Eng. | 
I could get a pot-boy's place again, but I'm not so strong 
as I were, and It 's slavish work In the place I could get 
Mayhetr, London Labour and London Poor, II. 17. 
pot-cake (pot'kak), n. A light Norfolk dum- 
pling. lliil/iinll. 
pot-celt (pot'selt), n. A celt having the hollow 
or opening comparatively large. This form of 
celt was long thought to be an ax-head, but is 
now regarded as a ferrule. See ami/urn. 
potch 1 (pooh i. r. i. A variant of jJonrAl. 
potch 2 t (poch), r. t. An obsolete form of poofhs. 
potch 3 (poch), r. t. In papcr-maniif., to perform 
gas-bleaching upon (paper-stock) in a potch- 
mg-engine. The bleaching reagent Is chlorln dissolved 
in water, or chlorin generated in the mass by the action of 
dilute sulphuric acid upon a solution of common salt, or 
a solution of salt and chlorid of manganese, called bleach- 
in : i-li'ini'l. The stock Is placed In a machine constructed 
much like a breaking- or washing-engine, and called a 
lilMiiij rmjine. The acid I* very slowly dropped into 
the bleMhluff-U(|Uld ulx-n tlu- dilotin is to be generated 
in the mass, and, after the liberated chlorln has performed 
From this main tank the solution Is pumped tothe bleach- 
ing mill, . . . and Is there discharged Into pub-Am which 
contain the paper bulk to be bleached. 
KltcL Km. (Amer.), XIII. ixlv. i. 
potcher-engine (poch'er-en'jin), . In paprr- 
iHitiiuf., a machine for saturating washed ragx 
thoroughly with a bleaching-solution of chlorid 
of lime. Also called potcliiini-iiiiirliine. 
notching (poeh'ing), w. [Verbal n. of poti-li*. 
r.] In IHIJH i-iiniiiiit'., gas-bleaching. See;w<cA 8 . 
potching-engine (poch'ing-en'jin), M. In paper- 
maunf., a machine in which both washing and 
gas-bleaching are performed. It resembles In gen- 
eral construction a breaking- or washing engine. In U 
the rags are first washed. 1 he washer Is then lifted out, 
and the bleachlng-llquld Introduced. The process there- 
after proceeds M described under potrA-i. Also called 
potcher. 
potching-machine (poch'iug-ma-shen'), n. 
Same as potcher-euginr. 
pot : claw (pot'kla), n. A hook hung in an open 
chimney to support a pot or kettle. See tram- 
mel. 
pot-clep (pot'klep), . Same as ]>ot-clair. 
pot-companion (pot'kom-pau'yon), 11. A com- 
rade in drinking; a boon companion: applied 
generally to habitual topers. 
One pot cmnpanian and his fashion 
I will describe, and make relation 
Of what my selfe have seene. 
Time*' Whittle (R. E. T. .S.X p. H. 
For fuddling they shall make the best pot-companion In 
Switzerland knock under the table. 
Sir R. L'Eitranye, tr. of Quevedo. 
pote (pot), r. ; pret. and pp. ;><<</, ppr. potixy. 
[< ME. poten, < AS. potiuii, push, thrust, as an 
ox with its horns; cf. Sw. p&ta, poke ; D. freq. 
potcrcn, pcuttren, dig, poke, pry into, search : 
of Celtic origin; cf. W. pictio = Corn, pool = 
Gael, put, poke, put: sec put 1 , a var. of pole, 
and potter*, a frcq. form.] I. trant. ' . To push ; 
kick. Hallhcell. [North. Eng.] 2f. To plait. 
i, 0. 
He keepes a startcht gate, weares a formall ruffe, 
A nosegay, set face, and * paled cuffe, 
lleymod, Trola Hrltannlca (16U9X p. 80. (HaUiwell ) 
II. inlruMg. To creep about listlessly or mood- 
ily; poke. 
potecaryt (pot'e-ka-ri), . An obsolete aphetic 
form of apothecary. 
poteen (po-ten'), . (\\nopotteen, potheen ; < Ir. 
/i"i /in, a small pot, dim. of poite, a pot, pota, a 
pot, a vessel: gee pot, potation.] \\Tiiskymade 
in Ireland, especially that which is illicitly dis- 
tilled, sometimes very strong. 
ppteline (pot'e-lin), . [< T'otel, the name of 
its inventor, + -iw2.] A mixture of gelatin, 
glycerin, and tannin in variable proportions, 
according to its intended application, in which 
also may be incorporated zinc sulphate or 
barium sulphate. It may or may not be tinted by 
vegetable coloring matters. It Is plastic or liquid when 
heated, according to the degree of heat, and hard enough 
at ordinary temperatures to in- bored, turned, filed, or pol- 
ished. It has various adaptations. In a liquid state it Is 
used for sealing bottle*, and meats can be preserved by 
coating them with It. 
potellt, "- An obsolete form of pottle. 
potelot (jxit'e-lot), n. [< F. potelot, < D. pot- 
lood (> also O. pottloth), black-lead, < pot, pot. 
+ lootl, lead.] Sulphid of molybdenum. 
potence (po'tens), . [Also, in some uses, po- 
IHHI-I-: < OF. jiotence, power, a crutch, F. po- 
tence, a crutch, gibbet, etc., = Sp. Pg. potencia 
= It. potenza, power, < L. potrntui, power, ML. 
also a crutch, < i>ten(t-)x, powerful: gee po- 
tent.'] 1. Power; potency. 
I've seen the oppressor's cruel smile 
Amid his haplesa victim's spoil. 
And for thy polence vainly wlsh'd. 
To crush the villain In the dust. 
Burni, Lines Written on a Bank Note. 
2. InAer. : (a) A bearing of the shape of a capi- 
tal T that is. a cross tau. (6) The termina- 
tion of an ordinary or other bearing when of that 
form. 3. In viiii-li-nniiiiiii, the counter-bridge 
to the main cock or bridge on the top plate of a 
watch, holdini; the jeweling for the balance- 
>tatT. cylinder, or verge. 
potencee (po-ten->a'), <r. [< OF. /^<//, < /,. 
/ in;, a ero-s : tee /'"'< HI; .} Iii lii /-., terminat- 
ing in a potence that is, in tile tigiin-iif ;. 
tau. Also, rarelv. iilnmli 
