Piston, pis′tun, n. a circular plate of metal, or other material, used in pumps, steam-engines, &c., fitting and moving up and down within a tube or hollow cylinder.—n. Pis′ton-rod, the rod to which the piston is fixed, and which moves up and down with it. [Fr.,—It. pistone—pesto, to pound—L. pinsĕre, pistum.]
Pit, pit, n. a hole in the earth: a place whence minerals are dug: the bottomless pit: the grave: the abode of evil spirits: a hole used as a trap for wild beasts: the hollow of the stomach, or that under the arm at the shoulder: the indentation left by smallpox: the ground-floor of a theatre: an enclosure in which cocks fight: the shaft of a mine.—v.t. to mark with little hollows: to lay in a pit: to set in competition:—pr.p. pit′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. pit′ted.—ns. Pit′-coal, coal dug from a pit—not charcoal; Pit′-frame, the framework round a mine-shaft; Pit′-head, the ground at the mouth of a pit, and the machinery, &c., on it; Pit′man, a man who works in a coal-pit or a saw-pit, esp. the man who works the pumping machinery in the shaft of a mine: (mach.) a rod connecting a rotary with a reciprocating part.—adj. Pit′ted, marked with small pits.—ns. Pit′ting, the act of digging, or of placing in, a pit: a group of pit-marks: a corrosion of the inside of steam-boilers, &c.; Pit′-vill′age, a group of miners' houses near a pit. [A.S. pyt, pytt—L. puteus, a well.]
Pitaka, pit′a-ka, n. a collection of Buddhist scriptures, as made in Tibet. [Sans., 'basket.']
Pitapat, pit′a-pat, adv. with palpitation or quick beating.—adj. fluttering.—n. a light, quick step: a succession of light taps.—v.i. to step or tread quickly.
Pitch, pich, n. the solid black shining substance obtained by boiling down common tar.—v.t. to smear with pitch.—adjs. Pitch′-black, Pitch′-dark, dark as pitch: very dark.—ns. Pitch′-blende, a black oxide of uranium; Pitch′-coal, a kind of bituminous coal: jet; Pitch′iness, state or quality of being pitchy; Pitch′-pine, a kind of pine which yields pitch, and is much used in America as fuel; Pitch′-plas′ter, a plaster of Burgundy or white pitch; Pitch′-stone, an old volcanic-like hardened pitch; Pitch′-tree, the kauri pine, the Amboyna pine, or the Norway spruce.—adj. Pitch′y, having the qualities of pitch: smeared with pitch: black like pitch: dark: dismal. [A.S. pic—L. pix, pic-is.]
Pitch, pich, v.t. to thrust or fix in the ground: to fix or set in array: to fix the rate or price: to fling or throw: (mus.) to set the keynote of.—v.i. to settle, as something pitched: to come to rest from flight: to fall headlong: to fix the choice: to encamp: to rise and fall, as a ship.—n. a throw or cast from the hand: any point or degree of elevation or depression: degree: degree of slope: a descent: the height of a note in speaking or in music: (mech.) distance between the centres of two teeth in a wheel or a saw, or between the threads of a screw measured parallel to the axis.—ns. Pitched′-batt′le, a battle in which the contending parties have fixed positions: a battle previously arranged for on both sides; Pitch′er; Pitch′-far′thing, chuck-farthing; Pitch′fork, a fork for pitching hay, &c.: a tuning-fork.—v.t. to lift with a pitchfork: to throw suddenly into any position.—ns. Pitch′ing, the act of throwing: a facing of stone along a bank to protect against the action of water; Pitch′pipe, a small pipe to pitch the voice or tune with.—Pitch and pay (Shak.), pay down at once, pay ready-money; Pitch and toss, a game in which coins are thrown at a mark, the person who throws nearest having the right of tossing all the coins, and keeping those which come down head uppermost; Pitch in, to begin briskly; Pitch into, to assault. [A form of pick.]
Pitcher, pich′ėr, n. a vessel for holding water, &c.—n. Pitch′er-plant, a plant with leaves shaped like a pitcher or ascidium—Nepenthes, &c.—Pitchers have ears, there may be listeners. [O. Fr. picher—Low L. picarium, a goblet—Gr. bīkos, a wine-vessel, an Eastern word.]
Piteous, pit′e-us, adj. showing or feeling pity: fitted to excite pity: mournful: compassionate: paltry.—adv. Pit′eously.—n. Pit′eousness. [O. Fr. pitos, piteus. Cf. Pity.]
Pitfall, pit′fawl, n. a pit slightly covered, so that wild beasts may fall into it: any concealed danger.
Pith, pith, n. the marrow or soft substance in the centre of the stems of dicotyledonous plants: force or energy: importance: condensed substance: quintessence.—n. Pith′-ball, a pellet of pith.—adv. Pith′ily.—n. Pith′iness.—adj. Pith′less, wanting pith, force, or energy.—n. Pith′-pā′per, a thin sheet cut from pith for paper: rice-paper.—adj. Pith′y, full of pith: forcible: strong: energetic. [A.S. pitha; Dut. pit, marrow.]