Porpess, Porpesse, por′pes, n. Same as Porpoise.
Porphyrio, por-fir′i-ō, n. a genus of Rallidæ, the hyacinthine gallinules.
Porphyrogenitus, por-fir-ō-jen′i-tus, n. a title given to the Byzantine emperor, Constantine VII. (912-959), meaning 'born in the purple.'—n. Porphyrogen′itism, the Byzantine principle of the first son born after his father's accession succeeding to the throne. [Gr. porphyra, purple, gennain, to beget.]
Porphyry, por′fir-i, n. a very hard, variegated rock, of a purple and white colour, used in sculpture (porfido rosso antico): an igneous rock having a ground-mass enclosing crystals of feldspar or quartz.—v.t. Por′phyrise, to cause to resemble porphyry: to make of a spotted appearance.—n. Por′phyrite, one of the crystalline igneous rocks, which consists principally of plagioclase.—adjs. Porphyrit′ic, Porphyrā′ceous, resembling or consisting of porphyry.—n. Por′phyroid, a crystalline and schistose rock containing porphyritic crystals of feldspar. [Through Fr. and L. from Gr. porphyrites—porphyra, purple.]
Porpoise, por′pus, n. a genus of Cetecea in the family Delphinidæ, 4 to 8 feet long, gregarious, affording oil and leather—anciently Por′pess. [O. Fr. porpeis—L. porcus, a hog, piscis, a fish.]
Porporino, por-pō-rē′nō, n. an old alloy of quicksilver, tin, and sulphur, used in place of gold. [It.]
Porraceous, po-rā′shus, adj. greenish like the leek. [L. porrum, a leek.]
Porrection, po-rek′shun, n. the action of delivering as by outstretched hands.—adj. Porrect′, extended forward. [L., porrigĕre, to stretch out.]
Porridge, por′ij, n. a kind of pudding usually made by slowly stirring oatmeal amongst boiling water: a kind of broth, made by boiling vegetables in water. [Through O. Fr., from Low L. porrata—L. porrum, a leek. The affix -idge (= -age) arose through confusion with pottage.]
Porrigo, po-rī′gō, n. a general name for various skin diseases.—adj. Porrig′inous. [L.]