Part 663

Punch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Punched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Punching.] [From Punch, n., a tool; cf. F. poinÁonner.] To perforate or stamp with an instrument by pressure, or a blow; as, to punch a hole; to punch ticket.

Punching machine, or Punching press, a machine tool for punching holes in metal or other material; -- called also punch press.

Punch"eon (?), n. [F. poinÁon awl, bodkin, crown, king-post, fr. L. punctio a pricking, fr. pungere to prick. See Pungent, and cf. Punch a tool, Punction.]

1. A figured stamp, die, or punch, used by goldsmiths, cutlers, etc.

2. (Carp.) A short, upright piece of timber in framing; a short post; an intermediate stud. Oxf. Gloss.

3. A split log or heavy slab with the face smoothed; as, a floor made of puncheons. [U.S.] Bartlett.

4. [F. poinÁon, perh. the same as poinÁon an awl.] A cask containing, sometimes 84, sometimes 120, gallons.

Punch"er (?), n. One who, or that which, punches.

Pun"chin (?), n. See Puncheon.

Pun`chi*nel"lo (?), n. [It. pulcinella, probably originally a word of endearment, dim. of pulcina, pulcino, a chicken, from L. pullicenus, pullus. See Pullet.] A punch; a buffoon; originally, in a puppet show, a character represented as fat, short, and humpbacked. Spectator.

Punch"y (?), a. [Perhaps for paunchy, from paunch. See 3d Punch.] Short and thick, or fat.

{ Punc"ta*ted (?), Punc"ta*ted (?), } a. [From L. punctum point. See Point .] 1. Pointed; ending in a point or points.

2. (Nat. Hist.) Dotted with small spots of color, or with minute depressions or pits.

Punc*ta"tor (?), n. One who marks with points. specifically, one who writes Hebrew with points; -- applied to a Masorite. E. Robinson.

Punc*tic"u*lar (?), a. Comprised in, or like, a point; exact. [Obs. & R.] Sir T. Browne.

Punc"ti*form (?), a. [L. punctum point + -form.] Having the form of a point.

Punc*til"io (pk*tl"y), n.; pl. Punctilios (- yz). [It. puntiglio, or Sp. puntillo, dim. fr. L. punctum point. See Point, n.] A nice point of exactness in conduct, ceremony, or proceeding; particularity or exactness in forms; as, the punctilios of a public ceremony.

They will not part with the least punctilio in their opinions and practices.

Fuller.

Punc*til"ious (-ys), a. [Cf. It. puntiglioso, Sp. puntilloso.] Attentive to punctilio; very nice or exact in the forms of behavior, etiquette, or mutual intercourse; precise; exact in the smallest particulars. "A punctilious observance of divine laws." Rogers. "Very punctilious copies of any letters." The Nation.

Punctilious in the simple and intelligible instances of common life.

I. Taylor.

-- Punc*til"ious*ly, adv. -- Punc*til"ious*ness, n.

Punc"tion (?), n. [L. punctio, fr. pungere, punctum, to prick: cf. F. ponction. Cf. Puncheon.] A puncturing, or pricking; a puncture.

Punc"tist (?), n. A punctator. E. Henderson.

Punc"to (?), n. [See Punto.] 1. A nice point of form or ceremony. Bacon.

2. A term applied to the point in fencing. Farrow.

Punc"tu*al (?), a. [F. ponctuel (cf. Sp. puntual, It. puntuale), from L. punctum point. See Point.] 1. Consisting in a point; limited to a point; unextended. [R.] "This punctual spot." Milton.