An Illustrated Dictionary of Words used in Art and Archaeology / Explaining terms frequently used in works on architecture, arms, bronzes, Christian art, colour, costume, decoration, devices, emblems, heraldry, lace, personal ornaments, pottery, painting, sculpture, &c., with their derivations.

by John W. Mollett

Pessi (Gr. πεσσοί). Draughts. (See Latrunculi.)

Pessulus, R. A bolt for a door.

Petasus, Gr. and R. (πέτασος, i. e. that which spreads out). (1) A soft felt hat with broad brim. (2) The winged cap of Mercury. Most of the horsemen in the Panathenaic procession (see Elgin Marbles) wear the petasus. In Greek art it is a conventional sign of a traveller. (Compare Pileus.)

Petaurum, R. (πέταυρον, lit. a perch for fowls). A machine employed in the Roman games; probably a fixed “see-saw.”

Peter-boat, O. E. A river fisherman’s wherry.

Petit Canon, Fr. A kind of printing-type; two-line in English.

Petit Gris, Fr. Minever fur. (See Vair.)

Petit Texte, Fr. A kind of printing-type; brevier.

Petoritum, R. An open four-wheeled carriage, a kind of cart used for conveying slaves. Its Gallic origin is indicated by the etymology of the word, viz. petoer, four, and rit, a wheel.

Petronel (Fr. poictrinal). A piece of artillery or fire-arm, used in the 16th century, which was afterwards converted into a clumsy gun called a blunderbuss. It was the medium between the arquebus and the pistol.