Part 405

2. The term of office of a pontiff. Milman.

Pon*tif"i*cate (?), v. i. (R. C. Ch.) To perform the duty of a pontiff.

Pon"ti*fice (?), n. [L. pons, pontis, a bridge + facere to make. Cf. Pontiff.] Bridgework; structure or edifice of a bridge. [R.] Milton.

Pon`ti*fi"cial (?), a. [L. pontificius.] Papal; pontifical. [Obs.] "Pontificial writers." Burton.

Pon`ti*fi"cian (?), a. Of or pertaining to the pontiff or pope. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Pon`ti*fi"cian, n. One who adheres to the pope or papacy; a papist. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

Pon"til (?), n. Same as Pontee.

Pon"tile (?), a. [L. pontilis pertaining to a bridge.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pons Varolii. See Pons.

Pon"tine (?), a. [L. Pontinus or Pomptinus, an appellation given to a district in Latium, near Pometia.] Of or pertaining to an extensive marshy district between Rome and Naples. [Written also Pomptine.]

Pont"le*vis (?), n. [F., properly, a drawbridge.] (Man.) The action of a horse in rearing repeatedly and dangerously.

Pon*ton" (?), n. [F.] See Pontoon.

Pon*toon" (?), n. [F. ponton (cf. It. pontone), from L. ponto, -onis, fr. pons, pontis, a bridge, perhaps originally, a way, path: cf. Gr. &?; path, Skr. path, pathi, panthan. Cf. Punt a boat.] 1. (Mil.) A wooden flat-bottomed boat, a metallic cylinder, or a frame covered with canvas, India rubber, etc., forming a portable float, used in building bridges quickly for the passage of troops.

2. (Naut.) A low, flat vessel, resembling a barge, furnished with cranes, capstans, and other machinery, used in careening ships, raising weights, drawing piles, etc., chiefly in the Mediterranean; a lighter.

Pontoon bridge, a bridge formed with pontoons. -- Pontoon train, the carriages of the pontoons, and the materials they carry for making a pontoon bridge.

The French spelling ponton often appears in scientific works, but pontoon is more common form.

Pon*toon"ing, n. The act, art, or process of constructing pontoon bridges. "Army instruction in pontooning." Gen. W. T. Shermah.

Pont`vo*lant" (?; F. ?), n. [F. pont bridge + volant flying.] (Mil.) A kind of light bridge, used in sieges, for surprising a post or outwork which has but a narrow moat; a flying bridge.

Pon"ty (?), n. (Class Making) See Pontee.

Po"ny (?), n.; pl. Ponies (&?;). [Written also poney.] [Gael. ponaidh.] 1. A small horse.

2. Twenty-five pounds sterling. [Slang, Eng.]

3. A translation or a key used to avoid study in getting lessons; a crib. [College Cant]

4. A small glass of beer. [Slang]

Pony chaise, a light, low chaise, drawn by a pony or a pair of ponies. -- Pony engine, a small locomotive for switching cars from one track to another. [U.S.] -- Pony truck (Locomotive Engine), a truck which has only two wheels. -- Pony truss (Bridge Building), a truss which has so little height that overhead bracing can not be used.

Pood (?), n. [Russ. pud'.] A Russian weight, equal to forty Russian pounds or about thirty-six English pounds avoirdupois.

Poo"dle (?), n. [G. pudel.] (Zoˆl.) A breed of dogs having curly hair, and often showing remarkable intelligence in the performance of tricks.

Pooh (?), interj. [Of. imitative origin; cf. Icel. p.] Pshaw! pish! nonsense! -- an expression of scorn, dislike, or contempt.

Pooh`-pooh" (?), v. t. To make light of; to treat with derision or contempt, as if by saying pooh! pooh! [Colloq.] Thackeray.

||Poo"koo (?), n. [From the native name.] (Zoˆl.) A red African ||antelope (Kobus Vardoni) allied to the water buck.