PORPHYRIZE
Por`phy*rize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. porphyriser, Gr.
Defn: To cause to resemble porphyry; to make spotted in composition, like porphyry.
PORPHYROGENITISM
Por`phy*ro*gen"i*tism, n. Etym: [LL. porphyro genitus, fr. Gr.
Defn: The principle of succession in royal families, especially among the Eastern Roman emperors, by which a younger son, if born after the accession of his father to the throne, was preferred to an elder son who was not so born. Sir T. Palgrave.
PORPHYRY Por"phy*ry, n.; pl. Porphyries. Etym: [F. porphyre, L. porphyrites, fr. Gr. Purple.] (Geol.)
Defn: A term used somewhat loosely to designate a rock consisting of a fine-grained base (usually feldspathic) through which crystals, as of feldspar or quartz, are disseminated. There are red, purple, and green varieties, which are highly esteemed as marbles. Porphyry shell (Zoöl.), a handsome marine gastropod shell (Oliva porphyria), having a dark red or brown polished surface, marked with light spots, like porphyry.
PORPITA
Por"pi*ta, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of bright-colored Siphonophora found floating in the warmer parts of the ocean. The individuals are round and disk-shaped, with a large zooid in the center of the under side, surrounded by smaller nutritive and reproductive zooids, and by slender dactylozooids near the margin. The disk contains a central float, or pneumatocyst.
PORPOISE Por"poise, n. Etym: [OE. porpeys, OF. porpeis, literally, hog fish, from L. porcus swine + piscis fish. See Pork, and Fish.]
1. (Zoöl.)