Part 444

Potter's asthma (Med.), emphysema of the lungs; -- so called because very prevalent among potters. Parkers. -- Potter's clay. See under Clay. -- Potter's field, a public burial place, especially in a city, for paupers, unknown persons, and criminals; -- so named from the field south of Jerusalem, mentioned in Matt. xxvii. 7. -- Potter's ore. See Alquifou. -- Potter's wheel, a horizontal revolving disk on which the clay is molded into form with the hands or tools. "My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel." Shak. -- Potter wasp (Zoˆl.), a small solitary wasp (Eumenes fraternal) which constructs a globular nest of mud and sand in which it deposits insect larvÊ, such as cankerworms, as food for its young.

Pot"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pottered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pottering.] [Cf. W. pwtio to poke, or OD. poteren to search one thoroughly, Sw. pÂta, peta, to pick, E. pother, put.] 1. To busy one's self with trifles; to labor with little purpose, energy, of effect; to trifle; to pother.

Pottering about the Mile End cottages.

Mrs. Humphry Ward.

2. To walk lazily or idly; to saunter.

Pot"ter, v. t. To poke; to push; also, to disturb; to confuse; to bother. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Pot"tern (?), a. Of or pertaining to potters.

Pottern ore, a species of ore which, from its aptness to vitrify like the glazing of potter's wares, the miners call by this name. Boyle.

Pot"ter*y (?), n.; pl. Potteries (#). [F. poterie, fr. pot. See Pot.] 1. The vessels or ware made by potters; earthenware, glazed and baked.

2. The place where earthen vessels are made.

Pot"ting (?), n. 1. Tippling. [Obs.] Shak.

2. The act of placing in a pot; as, the potting of plants; the potting of meats for preservation.

3. The process of putting sugar in casks for cleansing and draining. [West Indies] B. Edwards.

Pot"tle (?), n. [OE. potel, OF. potel, dim. of pot. See Pot.] 1. A liquid measure of four pints.

2. A pot or tankard. Shak.

A dry pottle of sack before him.

Sir W. Scott.

3. A vessel or small basket for holding fruit.

He had a . . . pottle of strawberries in one hand.

Dickens.

Pottle draught, taking a pottle of liquor at one draught. [ Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

||Pot"to (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) A nocturnal mammal (Perodictius potto) of ||the Lemur family, found in West Africa. It has rudimentary ||forefingers. Called also aposoro, and bush dog. (b) The kinkajou.

Pott's" dis*ease" (?). (Med.) Caries of the vertebrÊ, frequently resulting in curvature of the spine and paralysis of the lower extremities; -- so named from Percival Pott, an English surgeon.

Pott's fracture, a fracture of the lower end of the fibula, with displacement of the tibia. Dunglison.

Pot"u*lent (?), a. [L. potulentus, fr. potus a drinking, drink, fr. potare to drink.] 1. Fit to drink; potable. [Obs.] Johnson.

2. Nearly drunk; tipsy. [Obs.]

Pot"-val`iant (?), a. Having the courage given by drink. Smollett.

Pot"-wal`lop*er (?), n. 1. A voter in certain boroughs of England, where, before the passage of the reform bill of 1832, the qualification for suffrage was to have boiled (walloped) his own pot in the parish for six months.