Defn: A plant, and its fruit, of the genus Pisum, of many varieties, much cultivated for food. It has a papilionaceous flower, and the pericarp is a legume, popularly called a pod.
Note: When a definite number, more than one, is spoken of, the plural form peas is used; as, the pod contained nine peas; but, in a collective sense, the form pease is preferred; as, a bushel of pease; they had pease at dinner. This distinction is not always preserved, the form peas being used in both senses.
2. A name given, especially in the Southern States, to the seed of several leguminous plants (species of Dolichos, Cicer, Abrus, etc.) esp. those having a scar (hilum) of a different color from the rest of the seed.
Note: The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or less
closely related to the common pea. See the Phrases, below. Beach pea
(Bot.), a seashore plant, Lathyrus maritimus.
— Black-eyed pea, a West Indian name for Dolichos sphærospermus and
its seed.
— Butterfly pea, the American plant Clitoria Mariana, having showy
blossoms.
— Chick pea. See Chick-pea.
— Egyptian pea. Same as Chick-pea.
— Everlasting pea. See under Everlasting.
— Glory pea. See under Glory, n.
— Hoary pea, any plant of the genus Tephrosia; goat's rue.
— Issue pea, Orris pea. (Med.) See under Issue, and Orris.
— Milk pea. (Bot.) See under Milk.
— Pea berry, a kind of a coffee bean or grain which grows single,
and is round or pea-shaped; often used adjectively; as, pea-berry
coffee.
— Pea bug. (Zoöl.) Same as Pea weevil.
— Pea coal, a size of coal smaller than nut coal.
— Pea crab (Zoöl.), any small crab of the genus Pinnotheres, living
as a commensal in bivalves; esp., the European species (P. pisum)
which lives in the common mussel and the cockle.
— Pea dove (Zoöl.), the American ground dove.
— Pea-flower tribe (Bot.), a suborder (Papilionaceæ) of leguminous
plants having blossoms essentially like that of the pea. G. Bentham.
— Pea maggot (Zoöl.), the larva of a European moth (Tortrix pisi),
which is very destructive to peas.
— Pea ore (Min.), argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in round
grains of a size of a pea; pisolitic ore.
— Pea starch, the starch or flour of the common pea, which is
sometimes used in adulterating wheat flour, pepper, etc.
— Pea tree (Bot.), the name of several leguminous shrubs of the
genus Caragana, natives of Siberia and China.
— Pea vine. (Bot.) (a) Any plant which bears peas. (b) A kind of
vetch or tare, common in the United States (Lathyrus Americana, and
other similar species).
— Pea weevil (Zoöl.), a small weevil (Bruchus pisi) which destroys
peas by eating out the interior.
— Pigeon pea. (Bot.) See Pigeon pea.
— Sweet pea (Bot.), the annual plant Lathyrus odoratus; also, its
many-colored, sweet-scented blossoms.
PEABIRD
Pea"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wryneck; — so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]
PEABODY BIRD
Pea"bod*y bird`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An American sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) having a conspicuous white throat. The name is imitative of its note. Called also White-throated sparrow.
PEACE Peace, n. Etym: [OE. pees, pais, OF. pais, paiz, pes, F. paix, L. pax, pacis, akin to pacere, paciscere, pacisci, to make an agreement, and prob. also pangere to fasten. Cf. Appease, Fair, a., Fay, v., Fang, Pacify, Pact, Pay to requite.]
Defn: A state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose; specifically: (a) Exemption from, or cessation of, war with public enemies. (b) Public quiet, order, and contentment in obedience to law. (c) Exemption from, or subjection of, agitating passions; tranquillity of mind or conscience. (d) Reconciliation; agreement after variance; harmony; concord. "The eternal love and pees." Chaucer.