Pilch, pilch, n. (Shak.) a cloak or gown lined with furs: a flannel cloth or wrap for a child.—n. Pilch′er, one who wears a pilch: a scabbard. [A.S. pylce—Low L. pellicea—L. pellis, skin.]
Pilchard, pil′chärd, n. a sea-fish like the herring, but thicker and rounder, caught chiefly on the Cornish coast. [Prob. Celt., Ir. pilseir.]
Pile, pīl, n. a roundish mass: a heap of separate objects: combustibles, esp. for burning dead bodies: a large building: a heap of shot or shell: (elect.) a form of battery consisting of a number of dissimilar metal plates laid in pairs one above another, with an acid solution between them: (slang) a large amount of money: a fortune.—v.t. to lay in a pile or heap: to collect in a mass: to heap up: to fill above the brim.—n. Pī′ler, one who forms into a heap.—Pile arms, to place three muskets with fixed bayonets so that the butts remain firm, the muzzles close together pointing obliquely—also Stack arms. [Fr.,—L. pĭla, a ball.]
Pile, pīl, n. a pillar: a large stake driven into the earth to support foundations: a pyramidal figure in a heraldic bearing.—v.t. to drive piles into.—ns. Pile′-driv′er, Pile′-en′gine, an engine for driving down piles; Pile′-dwell′ing, a dwelling built on piles, a lake-dwelling; Pile′work, work or foundations made of piles; Pile′-worm, a worm found eating into the timber of piles and ships: the teredo. [A.S. píl—L. pīla, a pillar.]
Pile, pīl, n. hair, fur: the nap on cloth, esp. if regular and closely set.—v.t. to furnish with pile, to make shaggy.—adj. Pile′-worn, worn threadbare. [O. Fr. peil, poil—L. pĭlus, a hair.]
Piles, pīlz, n.pl. hæmorrhoids. [L. pĭla, a ball.]
Pileum, pil′ē-um, n. (ornith.) the top of the head from the base of the bill to the nape—including the forehead or front, the vertex or corona, and the hindhead or occiput:—pl. Pil′ēa.
Pileus, pil′ē-us, n. a Roman conical cap: (bot.) the summit of the stipe bearing the hymenium in some fungi:—pl. Pil′ei (-ī).—adjs. Pil′ēate, -d, fitted with a cap: having the form of a cap or hat; Pil′ēiform.—n. Pilē′olus, a little pileus:—pl. Pilē′oli. [L. pileatus—pileus, a cap of felt.]
Pile-wort, pīl′-wurt, n. a buttercup, the celandine.
Pilfer, pil′fėr, v.i. to steal small things.—v.t. to steal by petty theft.—ns. Pil′ferer; Pil′fering, Pil′fery, petty theft.—adv. Pil′feringly. [Pelf.]