IMPETUS Im"pe*tus, n. Etym: [L., fr. impetere to rush upon, attack; pref. im- in + petere to fall upon, seek. See Petition.]
1. A property possessed by a moving body in virtue of its weight and its motion; the force with which any body is driven or impelled; momentum.
Note: Momentum is the technical term, impetus its popular equivalent, yet differing from it as applied commonly to bodies moving or moved suddenly or violently, and indicating the origin and intensity of the motion, rather than its quantity or effectiveness.
2. Fig.: Impulse; incentive; vigor; force. Buckle.
3. (Gun.)
Defn: The aititude through which a heavy body must fall to acquire a velocity equal to that with which a ball is discharged from a piece.
IMPEYAN PHEASANT Im"pey*an pheas"ant. Etym: [From Lady Impey, who attempted to naturalize the bird in England.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Indian crested pheasant of the genus Lophophorus. Several species are known. Called also monaul, monal.
Note: They are remarkable for the bright color and brilliant matallic hues of their plumage. The best known species (L. Impeyanus) has the neck of a brilliant metallic red, changing to golden yellow in certain lights.
IMPHEE
Im"phee, n. (Bot.)