Part 270

Abutment pier, the pier of a bridge next the shore; a pier which by its strength and stability resists the thrust of an arch. -- Pier glass, a mirror, of high and narrow shape, to be put up between windows. -- Pier table, a table made to stand between windows.

Pier"age (?), n. Same as Wharfage. Smart.

Pierce (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pierced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Piercing (?).] [OE. percen, F. percer, OF. percier, perchier, parchier; perh. fr. (assumed) LL. pertusiare for pertusare, fr. L. pertundere, pertusum, to beat, push, bore through; per through + tundere to beat: cf. OF. pertuisier to pierce, F. pertuis a hole. Cf. Contuse, Parch, Pertuse.] 1. To thrust into, penetrate, or transfix, with a pointed instrument. "I pierce . . . her tender side." Dryden.

2. To penetrate; to enter; to force a way into or through; to pass into or through; as, to pierce the enemy's line; a shot pierced the ship.

3. Fig.: To penetrate; to affect deeply; as, to pierce a mystery. "Pierced with grief." Pope.

Can no prayers pierce thee?

Shak.

Pierce, v. i. To enter; to penetrate; to make a way into or through something, as a pointed instrument does; -- used literally and figuratively.

And pierced to the skin, but bit no more.

Spenser.

She would not pierce further into his meaning.

Sir P. Sidney.

Pierce"a*ble (?), a. That may be pierced.

Pierced (?), a. Penetrated; entered; perforated.

Pier"cel (?), n. [Cf. F. perce.] A kind of gimlet for making vents in casks; -- called also piercer.

Pier"cer (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, pierces or perforates; specifically: (a) An instrument used in forming eyelets; a stiletto. (b) A piercel.

2. (Zoˆl.) (a) The ovipositor, or sting, of an insect. (b) An insect provided with an ovipositor.

Pier"cing (?), a. Forcibly entering, or adapted to enter, at or by a point; perforating; penetrating; keen; -- used also figuratively; as, a piercing instrument, or thrust. "Piercing eloquence." Shak.

-- Pier"cing*ly, adv. -- Pier"cing*ness, n.

Pi*e"ri*an (?), a. [L. Pierius, from Mount Pierus, in Thessaly, sacred to the Muses.] Of or pertaining to Pierides or Muses.

Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.

Pope.

Pi"er*id (?), n. [See Peirides.] (Zoˆl.) Any butterfly of the genus Pieris and related genera. See Cabbage butterfly, under Cabbage.

||Pi*er"i*des (?), n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. &?;. See Pierian.] (Class. ||Myth.) The Muses.

Pi"et (p"t), n. [Dim. of Pie a magpie: cf. F. piette a smew.] (Zoˆl.) (a) The dipper, or water ouzel. [Scot.] (b) The magpie. [Prov.Eng.]

Jay piet (Zoˆl.), the European jay. [Prov.Eng.] -- Sea piet (Zoˆl.), the oyster catcher. [Prov.Eng.]

||Pi*e*t‡" (p**t‰"), n. [It.] (Fine Arts) A representation of the dead ||Christ, attended by the Virgin Mary or by holy women and angels. ||Mollett.

Pi"e*tism (p"*tz'm), n. [Cf. G. pietismus, F. piÈtisme.] 1. The principle or practice of the Pietists.