Chapter Pluck his Goose to Poets of P by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

of Indolence, canto 1.

Pluto Many artists of great repute have painted this god, the three most famous being that by Jule-Romain (1492-1546), a pupil of Raphael, in Mantua; one by Augustin Carrache (1558- 1601), in Modena, generally called Il Famoso; and the third by Luc Giordano (1632-1701), in the gallery of the Palace Riccardi. Raphael has introduced Pluto in his Assembly of the Gods.
    In the Villa Albani of Rome is the famous antique statue of Pluto and Cerberus.

Plutonic Rocks Granites, and certain porphyries, supposed to be of igneous, but not of volcanic, origin. So called by Lyell from Pluto, the principle of elemental fire.

Plutus Rich as Plutus. In Greek mythology Plutos is the god of riches. Plutus and Pluto are widely different.

Plymouth Brethren A sect that protests against all sectarianism, and advocates the unity of the church; some even go so far as to advocate a community of goods. So called from Plymouth, where they sprang into existence in 1830.

Plymouth Cloak (A). A good stout cudgel. In the time of the Crusades many men of good family used to land at Plymouth utterly destitute. They went to a neighbouring wood, cut themselves a good stout club, and, stopping the first passenger that passed by, provided themselves with money and clothing. (Fuller: Worthies.)

Pocahontas Daughter of Powhatan, an Indian chief of Virginia, who rescued Captain John Smith when her father's hand was on the point of killing him. She subsequently married John Rolfe, and was baptised under the name of Rebecca. (1595-1617.) (See Old and New London, ii. 481.)

Pocket (diminutive of poche, a pouch).
   To put one's hand in one's pocket. To give money (generally to some charity).
   Put your pride in your pocket. Lay your pride aside for the nonce.
   To be in pocket. To be a gainer by some transaction.
   To be out of pocket. To be a loser by some transaction.

Pocket an Insult (To). To submit to an insult without apparent displeasure.

Pocket Borough (A). A borough where the influence of the magnate is so powerful as to be able to control the election of any candidate he may choose to support. Well nigh a thing of the past since the introduction of voting by ballot.

Pocket Judgment (A). A bond under the hand of a debtor, countersigned by the sovereign. This bond can be enforced without legal process, but has quite fallen into disuse.

Pocket Pistol (A). A dram-flask for the pocket, in “self-defence,” because we may be unable to get a dram on the road.

Pocket Pistol (Queen Bess's). A formidable piece of ordnance given to Queen Elizabeth by the Low Countries in recognition of her efforts to protect them in their reformed religion. It used to overlook the Channel from Dover Cliffs, but in 1894 was removed to make room for a battery of modern guns. It is said that it contains in Flemish the equivalent of the following words:-

“Load me well and keep me clean,
And I'll carry a ball to Calais Green.”

   But this translation is only fanciful.

Poco rather, as a poco forte, poco animato.

Pococurante (5 syl.). Insouciant, devil-may-care, easy-go-lucky. As the “Pococurante Guardsman” (the imperturbable and impassive ...). Also used for one who in argument leaves the main gist and rides off on some minor and indifferent point.

Pococurantism Insouciance, imperturbability. Also indifference to important matters, but concern about trifles.