Chapter Peace of God to Peeler of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Pedro (Don), a Portuguese nobleman, father of donna Violante.—Centlivre: The Wonder (1714).

Pedro (Dr.), whose full name was Dr. Pedro Rezio de Aguero, court physic ian in the island of Barataria. He carried a whalebone rod in his hand, and whenever any dish of food was set before Sancho Panza the governor, he touched it with his wand, that it might be instantly removed, as unfit for the governor to eat. Partridges were “forbidden by Hippocratês,” olla podridas were “most pernicious,” rabbits were “a sharp-haired diet,” veal might not be touched, but “a few wafers and a thin slice or two of quince” might not be harmful.

The governor, being served with some beef hashed with onions,…fell to with more avidity than if he had been set down to Milan godwits, Roman pheasants, Sorrento veal, Moron partridges, or green geese of Lavajos; and turning to Dr. Pedro, he said, “Look you, signor doctor, I want no dainties,… for I have been always used to beef, bacon, pork, turnips, and onions.”—Cervantes: Don Quixote, II. iii. 10, 12 (1615).

Dr. Sangrado seems to be copied in some measure from this character. His panacea was hot water and stewed apples.—Lesage: Gil Blas (1715-35).

Dr. Hancock (a real character) prescribed cold water and stewed prunes.

Peebles (Peter), the pauper litigant. He is vain, litigious, hard-hearted, and credulous; a liar, a drunkard, and a pauper. His “ganging plea” is Hogarthian comic.—Sir W. Scott: Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Peecher (Miss), a schoolmistress, in the flat country where Kent and Surrey meet. “Small, shining, neat methodical, and buxom was Miss Peecher; cherry-cheeked and tuneful of voice. A little pincushion, a little hussif, a little book, a little work-box, a little set of tables and weights and measures, and a little woman, all in one. She could write a little essay on any subject exactly a slate long, and strictly according to rule. If Mr. Bradley Headstone had proposed marriage to her, she would certainly have replied ‘yes,’ for she loved him;” but Mr. Headstone did not love Miss Peecher—he loved Lizzie Hexam, and had no love to spare for any other woman.—Dickens: Our Mutual Friend, ii. I (1864).

Peel-the-Causeway (Old), a smuggler.—Sir W. Scott: Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Peeler (Sir), any crop which greatly impoverishes the ground. To peel is to impoverish soil, as “oats, rye, barley, and grey wheat,” but not peas (xxxiii. 51).

Wheat doth not well,
Nor after sir Peeler he loveth to dwell.

Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, xviii. 12 (1557).