Philip and Cheiny, an expression for two or more men of the common people taken at random; Udall, Erasmus, Apoph., Pompey, 1. Also, Philip, Hob and Cheanie, Tusser, Husbandry, 8. Also, name for a kind of worsted or woollen stuff of common quality; ‘Thirteene pound . . . T’will put a Lady scarce in Philip and Cheyney’, Fletcher, Wit at several Weapons, ii. 1 (Lady Ruinous). See NED. (s.v. Philip, 4) and Davies, Eng. Glossary.
philomath, a lover of learning, esp. a mathematician. Congreve, Love for Love, ii. 1 (Sir Sampson). Gk. φιλομαθής.
Phip, a familiar name for a sparrow, a contraction for [Philip], q.v.; Sir Philip Sidney, Astrophel, Sonnet 83; Lyly, Mother Bombie, iii. 4 (Song).
Phitonesse, the witch of Endor; ‘Heavenly breath, of Phitonessa’s power, That raised the dead corpse of her friend to life’, Middleton, Family of Love, iii. 7. 5; ‘I call In the name of Kyng Saul . . . He bad the Phitonesse To wytchcraft her to dresse’, Skelton, Phylyp Sparowe, 1359. ME. Phitonesse, the witch of Endor (Gower, C. A. iv. 1937); Phitones, Barbour’s Bruce, iv. 753 (see Notes, p. 563); phitonesses, witches (Chaucer, Hous F. iii. 1261). Med. L. phitonissa for pythonissa, a woman inspired by Python (Ducange). Cp. Vulgate, in the story of the witch of Endor, 1 Sam. xxviii. 7 (‘mulierem habentem pythonem’). Gk. πνεῦμα πύθωνα, a spirit of Python, Acts xvi. 16. See note, no. 729 in Prompt. EETS., p. 600, and [fitten].
phonascus, a singing-master; ‘Why have you not, like Nero, a phonascus?’, Lee, Theodosius, iv. 2 (Marcian). Misprinted phenascus in The Modern British Drama, i. 329. L. phonascus (Suetonius); Gk. φωνασκός, one who exercises the voice; from φωνή, voice.
phrenitis, a kind of frenzy or madness. Ford, Lover’s Melancholy, iii. 3 (Corax). Gk. φρενῖτις, delirium.
phrontisterion, a place for thinking or studying, an academy or college. Tomkis, Albumazar, i. 3. 10; phrontisterium; Randolph, Muses’ Looking-glass, iii. 1 (Banausus). Gk. φροντιστήριον, a place for meditation, a thinking-shop (Aristophanes).
physnomy, fisnomy, face, ‘physiognomy’. Shirley, Gamester, iii. 3 (Hazard); fisnomy, All’s Well, iv. 5. 42.
picardil; see [pickadil].
picaro, a rogue, knave. Shirley, The Brothers, v. 3 (Pedro); Pickaro, Middleton, Span. Gipsy, ii. 1 (Alvarez). Span. picaro, ‘a rogue, a scoundrel, a base fellow’ (Stevens).