Part 666

3. (Bot.) Prickly-pointed; hard and sharp.

Syn. -- Acrid; piercing; sharp; penetrating; acute; keen; acrimonious; biting; stinging.

Pun"gent*ly, adv. In a pungent manner; sharply.

Pun"gled (?), a. [Etymol. uncertain.] Shriveled or shrunken; -- said especially of grain which has lost its juices from the ravages of insects, such as the wheat midge, or Trips (Thrips cerealium).

Pung"y (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A small sloop or shallop, or a large boat with sails.

Pu"nic (?), a. [L. Punicus pertaining to Carthage, or its inhabitants, fr. Poeni the Carthaginians.]

1. Of or pertaining to the ancient Carthaginians.

2. Characteristic of the ancient Carthaginians; faithless; treacherous; as, Punic faith.

Yes, yes, his faith attesting nations own; 'T is Punic all, and to a proverb known.

H. Brooke.

Pu"nice (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Punese. [Obs. or R.]

Pu"nice, v. t. To punish. [Obs.] Chaucer.

{ Pu*ni"ceous (?), Pu*ni"cial (?), } a. [L. puniceus, fr. Punicus Punic.] Of a bright red or purple color. [R.]

Pu"ni*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being puny; littleness; pettiness; feebleness.

Pun"ish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Punished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Punishing.] [OE. punischen, F. punir, from L. punire, punitum, akin to poena punishment, penalty. See Pain, and -ish.] 1. To impose a penalty upon; to afflict with pain, loss, or suffering for a crime or fault, either with or without a view to the offender's amendment; to cause to suffer in retribution; to chasten; as, to punish traitors with death; a father punishes his child for willful disobedience.

A greater power Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned.

Milton.

2. To inflict a penalty for (an offense) upon the offender; to repay, as a fault, crime, etc., with pain or loss; as, to punish murder or treason with death.

3. To injure, as by beating; to pommel.

Syn. -- To chastise; castigate; scourge; whip; lash; correct; discipline. See Chasten.

Pun"ish*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. punissable.] Deserving of, or liable to, punishment; capable of being punished by law or right; -- said of person or offenses.

That time was, when to be a Protestant, to be a Christian, was by law as punishable as to be a traitor.

Milton.

-- Pun"ish*a*ble*ness, n.

Pun"ish*er (?), n. One who inflicts punishment.

Pun"ish*ment (?), n. 1. The act of punishing.

2. Any pain, suffering, or loss inflicted on a person because of a crime or offense.

I never gave them condign punishment.