Petrostearine
(Pet`ro*ste"a*rine) n. [Petro + stearine.] A solid unctuous material, of which candles are
made.
Petrous
(Pe"trous) a. [L. petrosus, fr. petra a stone.]
1. Like stone; hard; stony; rocky; as, the petrous part of the temporal bone. Hooper.
2. (Anat.) Same as Petrosal.
Pettichaps
(Pet"ti*chaps) n. (Zoöl.) See Pettychaps.
Petticoat
(Pet"ti*coat) n. (Zoöl.) [Petty + coat.] A loose under-garment worn by women, and covering
the body below the waist.
Petticoat government, government by women, whether in politics or domestic affairs. [Colloq.] —
Petticoat pipe (Locomotives), a short, flaring pipe surrounding the blast nozzle in the smoke box, to
equalize the draft.
Pettifog
(Pet"ti*fog) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pettifogged ; p. pr. & vb. n. Pettifogging ] [Petty + fog to
pettifog.] To do a petty business as a lawyer; also, to do law business in a petty or tricky way. "He takes
no money, but pettifogs gratis." S. Butler.
Pettifog
(Pet"ti*fog), v. t. To advocate like a pettifogger; to argue trickily; as, to pettifog a claim. [Colloq.]
Pettifogger
(Pet"ti*fog`ger) n. A lawyer who deals in petty cases; an attorney whose methods are mean
and tricky; an inferior lawyer.
A pettifogger was lord chancellor.
Macaulay. Pettifoggery
(Pet"ti*fog`ger*y) n.; pl. - ies The practice or arts of a pettifogger; disreputable tricks; quibbles.
Quirks of law, and pettifoggeries.
Barrow. Pettifogging
(Pet"ti*fog`ging) a. Paltry; quibbling; mean.
Pettifogging
(Pet"ti*fog`ging), n. Pettifoggery.
Pettifogulize
(Pet`ti*fog"u*lize) v. i. To act as a pettifogger; to use contemptible tricks. De Quincey.
Pettily
(Pet"ti*ly), adv. In a petty manner; frivolously.
Pettiness
(Pet"ti*ness), n. The quality or state of being petty or paltry; littleness; meanness.
Pettish
(Pet"tish) a. [From Pet.] Fretful; peevish; moody; capricious; inclined to ill temper. "A pettish
kind of humor." Sterne. — Pet"tish*ly, adv. — Pet"tish*ness, n.
