Plating is the art of covering metals with a thin surface of silver or gold for ornament.
Platinum (Sp. plata, silver). A white metal exceedingly ductile, malleable, and difficult of fusion. It is found in the Ural Mountains and in South America, and is much used in goldsmiths’ work in Russia.
Plaustrum, R. (plaudo, to rumble). A two-wheeled cart drawn by two oxen, and used for conveying agricultural produce; plaustrum majus was a much larger cart mounted on four wheels. It had a long pole projecting behind, on which blocks of stone or other cargo could be balanced on planks attached. The wheels (tympana) were of solid wood nearly a foot in thickness, and their creaking was heard to a great distance (hence the name).
Plectrum or Plektron, Gr. and R. (from πλήσσειν, to strike). A short stem of ivory or metal pointed at both ends, used to strike the chords of the lyre, the barbiton, the cithara, and some other stringed instruments.
Plemochoê, Gr. and R. (πλημο-χοὴ, i. e. that pours a flood). A vessel in the shape of a top; it resembled the cotylê.
Plenitude, Her. Said of the moon when in full.
Plenshing-nail. A large nail for fastening the planks of floors to the joists.
Plethron, Gr. The basis of land measurement, being 100 feet square, or 10,000 square feet. As a lineal measure, 100 feet, or about 101 of English measurement.
Plinth, Arch. (πλίνθος). Lit. a tile or brick, and thence the lower projecting base of a column, pedestal, or wall, which resembles a strong square tile placed beneath the last torus at the base of a column. (See Abacus.)
Plinthium, R. (πλινθίον). A sun-dial, so called because its divisions were marked on a flat surface (πλίνθος).