Pitch-blende. An ore used in porcelain painting. It produces a fine orange colour; also a black.
Pitch-pipe. A sort of whistle for ascertaining the pitch of a musical instrument, or for setting the key-note.
Pithos, R. (πίθος). A large earthenware jar with a narrow neck, used in ancient and modern times for storing wine and oil. It appears upon a bas-relief in the Villa Albani as the tub of Diogenes.
Pito, Sp. A Mexican name for the pipe of the Aztecs, which resembled a flageolet. It was made of red clay, and had four finger-holes. The young man selected as a victim at the sacrifice to Tezcatlepoca was carefully instructed before his death in the art of playing this instrument, and as he ascended the temple or TEOCALLI to the sacrifice, he broke a flute upon each of the steps of the temple.
Piu, It. Rather; used in Music, as piu forté, rather loud.
Pix or Pyx, Chr. (πυξίς). (1) A box to keep the unconsecrated altar breads in. It was generally circular, with a pointed cover, and richly enamelled. (2) The vessel in which the holy eucharist was suspended over the altar. (3) The box kept at the British Mint to contain the coins selected to be tried in assay, to ascertain whether the coinage is of the standard purity. (See Ciborium [3], Monstrance, &c.)
Pizzicato (It.). An expression in music; playing on the violin like a harp.
Placage, Fr. Veneering or inlaying.
Plack, Scotch. A small copper coin formerly current in Scotland; equal to the third of an English penny.
Placket, O. E. A petticoat. (Shakspeare.)