Part 272

Blue pigeon (Zoˆl.), an Australian passerine bird (Graucalus melanops); -- called also black-faced crow. -- Green pigeon (Zoˆl.), any one of numerous species of Old World pigeons belonging to the family TreronidÊ. -- Imperial pigeon (Zoˆl.), any one of the large Asiatic fruit pigeons of the genus Carpophada. - - Pigeon berry (Bot.), the purplish black fruit of the pokeweed; also, the plant itself. See Pokeweed. -- Pigeon English [perhaps a corruption of business English], an extraordinary and grotesque dialect, employed in the commercial cities of China, as the medium of communication between foreign merchants and the Chinese. Its base is English, with a mixture of Portuguese and Hindoostanee. Johnson's Cyc. -- Pigeon grass (Bot.), a kind of foxtail grass (Setaria glauca), of some value as fodder. The seeds are eagerly eaten by pigeons and other birds. - - Pigeon hawk. (Zoˆl.) (a) A small American falcon (Falco columbarius). The adult male is dark slate-blue above, streaked with black on the back; beneath, whitish or buff, streaked with brown. The tail is banded. (b) The American sharp- shinned hawk (Accipiter velox, or fuscus). -- Pigeon hole. (a) A hole for pigeons to enter a pigeon house. (b) See Pigeonhole. (c) pl. An old English game, in which balls were rolled through little arches. Halliwell. -- Pigeon house, a dovecote. -- Pigeon pea (Bot.), the seed of Cajanus Indicus; a kind of pulse used for food in the East and West Indies; also, the plant itself. -- Pigeon plum (Bot.), the edible drupes of two West African species of Chrysobalanus (C. ellipticus and C. luteus). -- Pigeon tremex. (Zoˆl.) See under Tremex. -- Pigeon wood (Bot.), a name in the West Indies for the wood of several very different kinds of trees, species of Dipholis, Diospyros, and Coccoloba. -- Pigeon woodpecker (Zoˆl.), the flicker. -- Prairie pigeon. (Zoˆl.) (a) The upland plover. (b) The golden plover. [Local, U.S.]

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Pi"geon (?), v. t. To pluck; to fleece; to swindle by tricks in gambling. [Slang] Smart.

He's pigeoned and undone.

Observer.

Pi"geon-breast`ed (?), a. Having a breast like a pigeon, -- the sternum being so prominent as to constitute a deformity; chicken-breasted.

Pi"geon*foot` (?), n. (Bot.) The dove's-foot geranium (Geranium molle).

Pi"geon-heart`ed (?), a. Timid; easily frightened; chicken-hearted. Beau. & Fl.

Pi"geon*hole` (?), n. A small compartment in a desk or case for the keeping of letters, documents, etc.; -- so called from the resemblance of a row of them to the compartments in a dovecote. Burke.

Pi"geon*hole`, v. t. To place in the pigeonhole of a case or cabinet; hence, to put away; to lay aside indefinitely; as, to pigeonhole a letter or a report.

Pi"geon-liv`ered (?), a. Pigeon- hearted.

Pi"geon*ry (?), n. A place for pigeons; a dovecote.

Pi"geon*toed` (?), a. Having the toes turned in.

Pig"-eyed` (?), a. Having small, deep-set eyes.

Pig"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) Any one of several species of salt-water grunts; -- called also hogfish. (b) A sculpin. The name is also applied locally to several other fishes.

Pig"foot` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A marine fish (ScorpÊna porcus), native of Europe. It is reddish brown, mottled with dark brown and black.

Pigg (?), n. A piggin. See 1st Pig. Sir W. Scott.

Pig"ger*y (?), n.; pl. Piggeries (&?;). A place where swine are kept.

Pig"gin (?), n. [Scot.; cf. Gael. pigean, dim. of pigeadh, pige, an earthen jar, pitcher, or pot, Ir. pigin, pighead, W. piccyn.] A small wooden pail or tub with an upright stave for a handle, -- often used as a dipper.

Pig"gish (?), a. Relating to, or like, a pig; greedy.

Pig"-head`ed (?), a. Having a head like a pig; hence, figuratively: stupidity obstinate; perverse; stubborn. B. Jonson. -- Pig"-head`ed*ness, n.

Pight (?), imp. & p. p. of Pitch, to throw; -- used also adjectively. Pitched; fixed; determined. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

I found him pight to do it.

Shak.

Pigh"tel (?), n. [Cf. Pight, Picle.] A small inclosure. [Written also pightle.] [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Pig"-jawed` (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Having the upper jaw projecting beyond the lower, with the upper incisors in advance of the lower; -- said of dogs.

Pig*me"an (?), a. See Pygmean.