Plotinian Plo·tin"i·an adjective Of pertaining to the Plotinists or their doctrines.

Plotinist Plo·ti"nist noun (Eccl. Hist.) A disciple of Plotinus, a celebrated Platonic philosopher of the third century, who taught that the human soul emanates from the divine Being, to whom it reunited at death.

Plotter Plot"ter noun One who plots or schemes; a contriver; a conspirator; a schemer. Dryden.

Plough Plough noun & v. See Plow .

Plouter Plout"er intransitive verb [ Also plowter , plotter .] [ Perh. imitative.] To wade or move about with splashing; to dabble; also, to potter; trifle; idle. [ Scot. & Dial. Eng.]

I did not want to plowter about any more.

Kipling.

Plouter Plout"er noun [ Also plowter .] Act of ploutering; floundering; act or sound of splashing. [ Scot. & Dial.Eng.]

Plover Plov"er noun [ Old French plovier , French pluvier , prop., the rain bird, from Late Latin (assumed) pluviarius , from Latin pluvia rain, from pluere to rain; akin to English float , German fliessen to flow. See Float .] 1. (Zoology) Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds belonging to the family Charadridæ , and especially those belonging to the subfamily Charadrinsæ . They are prized as game birds.

2. (Zoology) Any grallatorial bird allied to, or resembling, the true plovers, as the crab plover ( Dromas ardeola ); the American upland, plover ( Bartramia longicauda ); and other species of sandpipers.

» Among the more important species are the blackbellied, or blackbreasted, plover ( Charadrius squatarola ) of America and Europe; -- called also gray plover , bull-head plover , Swiss plover , sea plover , and oxeye ; the golden plover (see under Golden ); the ring or ringed plover ( Ægialitis hiaticula ). See Ringneck . The piping plover ( Ægialitis meloda ); Wilson's plover ( Æ. Wilsonia ); the mountain plover ( Æ. montana ); and the semipalmated plover ( Æ. semipalmata ), are all small American species.

Bastard plover (Zoology) , the lapwing. -- Long-legged , or yellow- legged , plover . See Tattler . -- Plover's page , the dunlin. [ Prov. Eng.] -- Rock plover , or Stone plover , the black-bellied plover. [ Prov. Eng.] -- Whistling plover . (a) The golden plover . (b) The black-bellied plover.

Plow, Plough Plow, Plough (plou) noun [ Middle English plouh , plou , Anglo-Saxon plōh ; akin to Dutch ploeg , German pflug , Old High German pfluog , pfluoh , Icelandic plōgr , Swedish plog , Danish ploug , plov , Russian plug' , Lithuanian plugas .] 1. A well-known implement, drawn by horses, mules, oxen, or other power, for turning up the soil to prepare it for bearing crops; also used to furrow or break up the soil for other purposes; as, the subsoil plow ; the draining plow .

Where fern succeeds ungrateful to the plow .

Dryden.

2. Fig.: Agriculture; husbandry. Johnson.

3. A carucate of land; a plowland. [ Obsolete] [ Eng.]

Johan, mine eldest son, shall have plowes five.

Tale of Gamelyn.

4. A joiner's plane for making grooves; a grooving plane.

5. (Bookbinding) An implement for trimming or shaving off the edges of books.

6. (Astron.) Same as Charles's Wain .

Ice plow , a plow used for cutting ice on rivers, ponds, etc. , into cakes suitable for storing. [ U. S.] -- Mackerel plow . See under Mackerel . - - Plow alms , a penny formerly paid by every plowland to the church. Cowell. -- Plow beam , that part of the frame of a plow to which the draught is applied. See Beam , noun , 9. -- Plow Monday , the Monday after Twelth Day, or the end of Christmas holidays. -- Plow staff . (a) A kind of long-handled spade or paddle for cleaning the plowshare; a paddle staff . (b) A plow handle. -- Snow plow , a structure, usually Λ-shaped, for removing snow from sidewalks, railroads, etc., -- drawn or driven by a horse or a locomotive.

Plow, Plough Plow, Plough transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Plowed (ploud) or Ploughed ; present participle & verbal noun Plowing or Ploughing .] 1. To turn up, break up, or trench, with a plow; to till with, or as with, a plow; as, to plow the ground; to plow a field.

2. To furrow; to make furrows, grooves, or ridges in; to run through, as in sailing.

Let patient Octavia plow thy visage up
With her prepared nails.

Shak.

With speed we plow the watery way.

Pope.

3. (Bookbinding) To trim, or shave off the edges of, as a book or paper, with a plow. See Plow , noun , 5.

4. (Joinery) To cut a groove in, as in a plank, or the edge of a board; especially, a rectangular groove to receive the end of a shelf or tread, the edge of a panel, a tongue, etc.

To plow in , to cover by plowing; as, to plow in wheat. -- To plow up , to turn out of the ground by plowing.

Plow, Plough Plow, Plough (plou) intransitive verb To labor with, or as with, a plow; to till or turn up the soil with a plow; to prepare the soil or bed for anything. Shak.

Doth the plowman plow all day to sow ?

Isa. xxviii. 24.

Plowable, Ploughable Plow"a·ble, Plough"a·ble adjective Capable of being plowed; arable.

Plowbote, Ploughbote Plow"bote`, Plough"bote` noun (Eng. Law) Wood or timber allowed to a tenant for the repair of instruments of husbandry. See Bote .

Plowboy, Ploughboy Plow"boy`, Plough"boy` noun A boy that drives or guides a team in plowing; a young rustic.

Plower, Plougher Plow"er, Plough"er noun One who plows; a plowman; a cultivator.

Plowfoot, Ploughfoot Plow"foot`, Plough"foot` noun An adjustable staff formerly attached to the plow beam to determine the depth of the furrow. Piers Plowman.

Plowgang, Ploughgang Plow"gang`, Plough"gang` noun Same as Plowgate .

Plowgate, Ploughgate Plow"gate`, Plough"gate` noun The Scotch equivalent of the English word plowland .

Not having one plowgate of land.

Sir W. Scott.

Plowhead, Ploughhead Plow"head`, Plough"head` noun The clevis or draught iron of a plow.

Plowland, Plougland Plow"land`, Ploug"land` noun 1. Land that is plowed, or suitable for tillage.

2. (O. Eng. Law) the quantity of land allotted for the work of one plow; a hide.

Plowman, Ploughman Plow"man, Plough"man noun ; plural -men 1. One who plows, or who holds and guides a plow; hence, a husbandman. Chaucer. Macaulay.

2. A rustic; a countryman; a field laborer.

Plowman's spikenard (Botany) , a European composite weed ( Conyza squarrosa ), having fragrant roots. Dr. Prior.

Plowpoint, Ploughpoint Plow"point`, Plough"point` noun A detachable share at the extreme front end of the plow body.

Plowshare, Ploughshare Plow"share`, Plough"share" noun The share of a plow, or that part which cuts the slice of earth or sod at the bottom of the furrow.

Plowshare bone (Anat.) , the pygostyle.

Plowtail, Ploughtail Plow"tail`, Plough"tail` noun The hind part or handle of a plow.

Plowwright, Ploughwright Plow"wright`, Plough"wright` noun One who makes or repairs plows.

Ploy Ploy noun Sport; frolic. [ Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Ploy Ploy intransitive verb [ Prob. abbrev. from deploy .] (Mil.) To form a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision; -- the opposite of deploy . Wilhelm.

Ployment Ploy"ment noun (Mil.) The act or movement of forming a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision; -- the opposite of deployment .

Pluck Pluck transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Plucked ; present participle & verbal noun Plucking .] [ Anglo-Saxon pluccian ; akin to LG. & Dutch plukken , German pflücken , Icelandic plokka , plukka , Danish plukke , Swedish plocka . ...27.] 1. To pull; to draw.

Its own nature . . . plucks on its own dissolution.

Je.... Taylor.

2. Especially, to pull with sudden force or effort, or to pull off or out from something, with a twitch; to twitch; also, to gather, to pick; as, to pluck feathers from a fowl; to pluck hair or wool from a skin; to pluck grapes.

I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude.

Milton.

E'en children followed, with endearing wile,
And plucked his gown to share the good man's smile.

Goldsmith.

3. To strip of, or as of, feathers; as, to pluck a fowl.

They which pass by the way do pluck her.

Ps. lxxx....2.

4. (Eng. Universities) To reject at an examination for degrees. C. Bronté.

To pluck away , to pull away, or to separate by pulling; to tear away. -- To pluck down , to pull down; to demolish; to reduce to a lower state. -- to pluck off , to pull or tear off; as, to pluck off the skin. -- to pluck up . (a) To tear up by the roots or from the foundation; to eradicate; to exterminate; to destroy; as, to pluck up a plant; to pluck up a nation . Jer. xii. 17. (b) To gather up; to summon; as, to pluck up courage.

Pluck Pluck intransitive verb To make a motion of pulling or twitching; -- usually with at ; as, to pluck at one's gown.

Pluck Pluck noun 1. The act of plucking; a pull; a twitch.

2. [ Prob. so called as being plucked out after the animal is killed; or confer Gael. & Ir. pluc a lump, a knot, a bunch.] The heart, liver, and lights of an animal.

3. Spirit; courage; indomitable resolution; fortitude.

Decay of English spirit, decay of manly pluck .

Thackeray.

4. The act of plucking, or the state of being plucked, at college. See Pluck , transitive verb , 4.

5. (Zoology) The lyrie. [ Prov. Eng.]

Plucked Plucked adjective Having courage and spirit. [ R.]

Plucker Pluck"er noun 1. One who, or that which, plucks.

Thou setter up and plucker down of kings.

Shak.

2. A machine for straightening and cleaning wool.

Pluckily Pluck"i·ly adverb In a plucky manner.

Pluckiness Pluck"i·ness noun The quality or state of being plucky.

Pluckless Pluck"less adjective Without pluck; timid; faint-hearted.

Plucky Pluck"y adjective [ Compar. Pluckier ; superl. Pluckiest .] Having pluck or courage; characterized by pluck; displaying pluck; courageous; spirited; as, a plucky race.

If you're plucky , and not over subject to fright.

Barham.

Pluff Pluff transitive verb [ Prob. of imitative origin.] To throw out, as smoke, dust, etc., in puffs. [ Scot.]

Pluff Pluff noun 1. A puff, as of smoke from a pipe, or of dust from a puffball; a slight explosion, as of a small quantity of gunpowder. [ Scot.]

2. A hairdresser's powder puff; also, the act of using it. [ Scot.]

Plug Plug noun [ Akin to Dutch plug , German pflock , Danish plök , plug , Swedish plugg ; confer W. ploc .] 1. Any piece of wood, metal, or other substance used to stop or fill a hole; a stopple.

2. A flat oblong cake of pressed tobacco. [ U. S.]

3. A high, tapering silk hat. [ Slang, U.S.]

4. A worthless horse. [ Slang, U.S.]

5. (Building) A block of wood let into a wall, to afford a hold for nails.

Fire plug , a street hydrant to which hose may be attached. [ U. S.] -- Hawse plug (Nautical) , a plug to stop a hawse hole. -- Plug and feather . (Stone Working) See Feather , noun , 7. -- Plug centerbit , a centerbit ending in a small cylinder instead of a point, so as to follow and enlarge a hole previously made, or to form a counterbore around it. -- Plug rod (Steam Eng.) , a rod attached to the beam for working the valves, as in the Cornish engine. -- Plug valve (Mech.) , a tapering valve, which turns in a case like the plug of a faucet.

Plug Plug transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Plugged ; present participle & verbal noun Plugging .] To stop with a plug; to make tight by stopping a hole.

Plug Plug noun -- Breech plug (Gun.) , in breech-loading guns, the metal plug or cylinder which closes the aperture in the breech, through which the gun is loaded.

Plug board Plug board (Electricity) A switchboard in which connections are made by means of plugs.

Plugger Plug"ger noun One who, or that which, plugs.

Plugging Plug"ging noun 1. The act of stopping with a plug.

2. The material of which a plug or stopple is made.

Plum Plum noun [ Anglo-Saxon plūme , from Latin prunum ; akin to Greek ..., .... Confer Prune a dried plum.]

1. (Botany) The edible drupaceous fruit of the Prunus domestica , and of several other species of Prunus ; also, the tree itself, usually called plum tree .

The bullace, the damson, and the numerous varieties of plum , of our gardens, although growing into thornless trees, are believed to be varieties of the blackthorn, produced by long cultivation.

G. Bentham.

» Two or three hundred varieties of plums derived from the Prunus domestica are described; among them the greengage , the Orleans , the purple gage , or Reine Claude Violette , and the German prune , are some of the best known.

» Among the true plums are; Beach plum , the Prunus maritima , and its crimson or purple globular drupes, -- Bullace plum . See Bullace . -- Chickasaw plum , the American Prunus Chicasa , and its round red drupes. -- Orleans plum , a dark reddish purple plum of medium size, much grown in England for sale in the markets. -- Wild plum of America , Prunus Americana , with red or yellow fruit, the original of the Iowa plum and several other varieties.

Among plants called plum , but of other genera than Prunus , are; Australian plum , Cargillia arborea and C. australis , of the same family with the persimmon. -- Blood plum , the West African Hæmatostaphes Barteri . -- Cocoa plum , the Spanish nectarine. See under Nectarine . -- Date plum . See under Date . -- Gingerbread plum , the West African Parinarium macrophyllum . -- Gopher plum , the Ogeechee lime. -- Gray plum , Guinea plum . See under Guinea . -- Indian plum , several species of Flacourtia .

2. A grape dried in the sun; a raisin.

3. A handsome fortune or property; formerly, in cant language, the sum of £100,000 sterling; also, the person possessing it.

Plum bird , Plum budder (Zoology) , the European bullfinch. -- Plum gouger (Zoology) , a weevil, or curculio ( Coccotorus scutellaris ), which destroys plums. It makes round holes in the pulp, for the reception of its eggs. The larva bores into the stone and eats the kernel. -- Plum weevil (Zoology) , an American weevil which is very destructive to plums, nectarines, cherries, and many other stone fruits. It lays its eggs in crescent-shaped incisions made with its jaws. The larva lives upon the pulp around the stone. Called also turk , and plum curculio . See Illust. under Curculio .

Plum Plum noun Something likened to a plum in desirableness; a good or choice thing of its kind, as among appointments, positions, parts of a book, etc.

Pluma Plu"ma (plū"mȧ) noun ; plural Plumæ (-mē). [ Latin ] (Zoology) A feather.

Plumage Plum"age (plūm"aj) noun [ French, from plume a feather.] (Zoology) The entire clothing of a bird.

» It consist of the contour feathers , or the ordinary feathers covering the head, neck, and body; the tail feathers , with their upper and lower coverts; the wing feathers , including primaries, secondaries, and tertiaries, with their coverts; and the down which lies beneath the contour feathers. See Illust. under Bird .

Plumassary Plu·mas"sa·ry noun [ Confer French plumasseau .] A plume or collection of ornamental feathers.

Plumassier Plu`mas`sier" noun [ French] One who prepares or deals in ornamental plumes or feathers.

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