PETECHIAE Pe*tech"i*æ, n. pl.; sing. Petechia (. Etym: [NL., fr. LL. peteccia; cf. F. pétéchie, It. petecchia, Sp. petequia, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Small crimson, purple, or livid spots, like flea-bites, due to extravasation of blood, which appear on the skin in malignant fevers, etc.
PETECHIAL
Pe*tech"i*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pétéchial, LL. petecchialis.] (Med.)
Defn: Characterized by, or pertaining to, petechiæ; spotted. Petechial fever, a malignant fever, accompanied with livid spots on the skin.
PETER
Pe"ter, n.
Defn: A common baptismal name for a man. The name of one of the apostles, Peter boat, a fishing boat, sharp at both ends, originally of the Baltic Sea, but now common in certain English rivers. — Peter Funk, the auctioneer in a mock auction. [Cant, U.S.] — Peter pence, or Peter's pence. (a) An annual tax or tribute, formerly paid by the English people to the pope, being a penny for every house, payable on Lammas or St.Peter's day; — called also Rome scot, and hearth money. (b) In modern times, a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics to the private purse of the pope. — Peter's fish (Zoöl.), a haddock; — so called because the black spots, one on each side, behind the gills, are traditionally said to have been caused by the fingers of St. Peter, when he caught the fish to pay the tribute. The name is applied, also, to other fishes having similar spots.
PETER
Pet"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Petered; p. pr. & vb. n. Petering.] Etym:
[Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: To become exhausted; to run out; to fail; — used generally with out; as, that mine has petered out. [Slang, U.S.]
PETEREL
Pet"er*el, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Petrel.