Point-device, Point-devise, point′-de-vīs′, n. (orig.) a lace worked with devices: anything uncommonly nice and exact.—adj. (arch.) scrupulously neat. [Fr. point, lace, devisé, with a device.]
Pointel, poin′tel, n. a sharp instrument: any sharp-pointed thing. [O. Fr.,—Low L. punctillum, a little point.]
Poise, poiz, v.t. to balance: to make of equal weight: to examine.—v.i. to hang in suspense.—n. weight: state of balance: equilibrium: a weight which balances another: a regulating power: the weight used in steelyards.—n. Pois′er, one who, or that which, poises. [O. Fr. poiser (Fr. peser)—L. pensāre, inten. of pendĕre, to hang.]
Poison, poi′zn, n. any substance which, introduced into the living organism, tends to destroy its life or impair its health: anything malignant or infectious: that which taints or destroys moral purity.—v.t. to infect or to kill with poison: to taint: to mar: to embitter: to corrupt.—adj. Poi′sonable.—ns. Poi′soner; Poi′son-fang, one of two large tubular teeth in the upper jaw of venomous serpents, through which poison passes from glands at their roots when the animal bites; Poi′son-gland, a gland which secretes poison; Poi′son-ī′vy, a shrub-vine of North America, causing a cutaneous eruption; Poi′son-nut, the nux vomica.—adj. Poi′sonous, having the quality of poison: destructive: impairing soundness or purity.—adv. Poi′sonously.—n. Poi′sonousness. [Fr.,—L. potio, a draught—potāre, to drink.]
Poitrel, poi′trel, n. armour to protect the horse's breast. [O. Fr. poitral—L. pectorale, a breast-plate—pectus, the breast.]
Poitrine, poi′trin, n. the breast-plate of a knight.
Pokal, pō′kal, n. an ornamental drinking-vessel.
Poke, pōk, n. a bag: a pouch.—A pig in a poke, a blind bargain, as of a pig bought without being seen. [Prob. Celt., as Ir. poc, a bag.]
Poke, pōk, v.t. to thrust or push against with something pointed: to search for with a long instrument: to thrust at with the horns.—v.i. to grope or feel, as in the dark.—n. act of pushing or thrusting: a thrust: a bonnet having a projecting front worn earlier in the century—also Poke′-bonn′et.—ns. Pō′ker, an iron rod for poking or stirring the fire; Po′ker-draw′ing, a design burnt into lime-tree or other wood with 'pokers,' which rather resembled plumbers' soldering irons.—adj. Pō′kerish, like a poker: stiff.—adv. Pō′kerishly.—adj. Pō′king, drudging, servile.—n. Pō′king-stick, a small stick or rod of steel formerly used for adjusting the plaits of ruffs.—adj. Pō′ky, stupid: dull: confined, with little room: poor, shabby.—Poke fun at, to ridicule, make fun of. [Ir. poc, a blow, Gael. puc, to push.]
Poker, pō′kėr, n. a bugbear.—adj. Pō′kerish, causing terror: uncanny.—Old Poker, the devil.