Pietà, pē-ā-ta′, n. a representation of the Virgin embracing the dead body of Jesus.
Pietra-dura, pyā′tra-dōō′ra, n. Florentine mosaic-work, in which the inlaid materials are hard stones—jasper, agate, &c.
Piety, pī′e-ti, n. the quality of being pious: reverence for the Deity, and desire to do His will: love and duty towards parents, friends, or country: sense of duty: dutiful conduct.—ns. Pī′etism, the doctrine and practice of the pietists; Pī′etist, one marked by strong devotional feeling: a name first applied to a sect of German religious reformers of deep devotional feeling (end of 17th century).—adjs. Pietist′ic, -al. [Fr. piété—L. pietas.]
Piezometer, pī-e-zom′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the compressibility of liquids. [Gr. piezein, to press, metron, a measure.]
Piffero, pif′e-rō, n. a form of oboe: an organ-stop.
Pig, pig, n. a swine of either gender: an oblong mass of unforged metal, as first extracted from the ore, so called because it is made to flow when melted in channels called pigs, branching from a main channel called the sow.—v.i. to bring forth pigs: to live together like pigs:—pr.p. pig′ging; pa.t. and pa.p. pigged.—adjs. Pig′-eyed, having small dull eyes with heavy lids; Pig′-faced, looking like a pig.—n. Pig′gery, a place where pigs are kept.—adj. Pig′gish, belonging to or like pigs: greedy, said of persons.—n. Pig′gishness.—adj. Pig′headed, having a large or ill-formed head: stupidly obstinate.—ns. Pig′headedness; Pig′-ī′ron, iron in pigs or rough bars; Pig′-lead, lead in pigs; Pig′-nut (same as Earth-nut); Pig′sconce, a pigheaded fellow: a blockhead; Pig′skin, the skin of a pig prepared as a strong leather: a saddle; Pig′-sty, a pen for keeping pigs; Pig's′-wash, swill; Pig's′-whis′per (slang), a low whisper: a very short space of time; Pig′-tail, the tail of a pig: the hair of the head tied behind in the form of a pig's tail: a roll of twisted tobacco. [A.S. pecg; Dut. bigge, big.]
Pig, pig, n. an earthen vessel. [Piggin.]
Pigeon, pij′un, n. a well-known bird, the dove: any bird of the dove family.—adjs. Pig′eon-breast′ed, having a physical deformity, due to rickets, in which the chest is flattened from side to side, and the sternum or breast-bone is thrown forward; Pig′eon-heart′ed, timid: fearful.—n. Pig′eon-hole, a hole or niche in which pigeons lodge in a dovecot: a division of a case for papers, &c.—v.t. to put into a pigeon-hole: to lay aside and treat with neglect.—n. Pig′eon-house, a dovecot.—adj. Pig′eon-liv′ered, timid: cowardly.—n. Pig′eonry, a place for keeping pigeons.—adj. Pig′eon-toed, having feet like pigeons, peristeropod: having turned-in toes. [Fr.,—L. pipio, -onis—pipīre, to chirp.]
Piggin, pig′in, n. a small wooden or earthen vessel. [Gael. pigean, dim. of pigeadh, or pige, a pot.]
Pight, pīt, v.t. (Spens.) to place, to fix.—adj. placed, fixed, determined. [Pitch, to place.]