Pole-axe, pōl′-aks, n. a battle-axe consisting of an axe-head on a long handle: an axe used by sailors for cutting away rigging of ships. [Orig. pollax, from poll, the head, and axe.]
Polecat, pōl′kat, n. a kind of weasel, which emits a stink—called also the Fitchet and Foumart. [M. E. polcat; prob. Fr. poule, hen, and cat.]
Polemarch, pol′e-mark, n. a title of several officials in ancient Greek states.
Polemic, -al, po-lem′ik, -al, adj. given to disputing: controversial.—n. one who disputes: one who speaks or writes in opposition to another: a controversy.—adv. Polem′ically.—n.sing. Polem′ics, contest or controversy: (theol.) the history of ecclesiastical controversy.—n. Pol′emoscope, a perspective glass so constructed as to give views of objects not lying directly before the eye. [Gr. polemos, war.]
Polemoniaceæ, pol-e-mō-ni-ā′sē-ē, n.pl. a natural order of plants—the phlox family.
Polenta, po-len′ta, n. an Italian dish, the chief ingredients of which are maize, meal, and salt. [It.,—L. polenta, peeled barley.]
Poley, pō′li, adj. without horns: polled. [Prov. Eng.]
Polianthes, pol-i-an′thēz, n. a small genus of ornamental plants of the amaryllis family—the tuberose. [Gr. polios, white, anthos, a flower.]
Police, pō-lēs′, n. the system of regulations of a city, town, or district for the preservation of order and enforcement of law: the internal government of a state: (short for Police′-force) the civil officers employed to preserve order, &c.—v.t. to guard or maintain order in: to put in order.—n.pl. Police′-commiss′ioners, a body of men appointed to regulate the appointments and duties of the police.—ns. Police′-inspect′or, a superior officer of police who has charge of a department, next in rank to a superintendent; Police′-mag′istrate, one who presides in a police court; Police′man, a member of a police-force; Police′-off′ice, -stā′tion, the headquarters of the police of a district, used also as a temporary place of confinement; Police′-off′icer, -con′stable, a policeman; Police′-rate, a tax levied for the support of the police.—Police court, a court for trying small offences brought before it by the police. [Fr.,—L. politia—Gr. politeia, the condition of a state—politēs, a citizen—polis, a city.]
Policy, pol′i-si, n. the art or manner of regulating or guiding conduct: the method and forms according to which the government and business of a country are carried on: a system of administration guided more by interest than by principle: dexterity of management: prudence: cunning: in Scotland, (esp. in pl.) the pleasure-grounds around a mansion. [O. Fr. policie (Fr. police)—L. politia—Gr. politeia.]