Pitot's tube to Placentalia
Pitot's tube
(Pi*tot's" tube`) (Hydraul.) A bent tube used to determine the velocity of running water, by
placing the curved end under water, and observing the height to which the fluid rises in the tube; a kind
of current meter.
Pitpan
(Pit"pan`) n. A long, flat- bottomed canoe, used for the navigation of rivers and lagoons in Central
America. Squier.
Pitpat
(Pit"pat`) n. & adv. See Pitapat.
Pitta
(Pit"ta) n. (Zoöl.) Any one of a large group of bright-colored clamatorial birds belonging to Pitta,
and allied genera of the family Pittidæ. Most of the species are varied with three or more colors, such as
blue, green, crimson, yellow, purple, and black. They are called also ground thrushes, and Old World
ant thrushes; but they are not related to the true thrushes.
The pittas are most abundant in the East Indies, but some inhabit Southern Asia, Africa, and Australia.
They live mostly upon the ground, and feed upon insects of various kinds.
Pittacal
(Pit"ta*cal) n. [Gr. pi`tta, pi`ssa, pitch + kalo`s beautiful: cf. F. pittacale.] (Chem.) A dark
blue substance obtained from wood tar. It consists of hydrocarbons which when oxidized form the orange-
yellow eupittonic compounds, the salts of which are dark blue.
Pittance
(Pit"tance) n. [OE. pitance, pitaunce, F. pitance; cf. It. pietanza, LL. pitancia, pittantia,
pictantia; perh. fr. L. pietas pity, piety, or perhaps akin to E. petty. Cf. Petty, and Pity.]
1. An allowance of food bestowed in charity; a mess of victuals; hence, a small charity gift; a dole. "A
good pitaunce." Chaucer.
One half only of this pittance was ever given him in money.
Macaulay. 2. A meager portion, quantity, or allowance; an inconsiderable salary or compensation. "The small pittance
of learning they received." Swift.
The inconsiderable pittance of faithful professors.
Fuller. Pitted
(Pit"ted) a.
1. Marked with little pits, as in smallpox. See Pit, v. t., 2.
2. (Bot.) Having minute thin spots; as, pitted ducts in the vascular parts of vegetable tissue.
Pitter
(Pit"ter) n. A contrivance for removing the pits from peaches, plums, and other stone fruit.
Pitter
(Pit"ter), v. i. To make a pattering sound; to murmur; as, pittering streams. [Obs.] R. Greene.
Pittle-pattle
(Pit"tle-pat`tle) v. i. To talk unmeaningly; to chatter or prattle. [R.] Latimer.
Pituitary
(Pi*tu"i*ta*ry) a. [L. pituita phlegm, pituite: cf. F. pituitarie.] (Anat.) (a) Secreting mucus or
phlegm; as, the pituitary membrane, or the mucous membrane which lines the nasal cavities. (b) Of or
pertaining to the pituitary body; as, the pituitary fossa.
Pituitary body or gland (Anat.), a glandlike body of unknown function, situated in the pituitary fossa,
and connected with the infundibulum of the brain; the hypophysis. Pituitary fossa (Anat.), the ephippium.
Pituite
(Pit"u*ite) n. [L. pituita: cf. F. pituite. Cf. Pip a disease of fowls.] Mucus, phlegm.
Pituitous
(Pi*tu"i*tous) a. [L. pituitosus: cf. F. pituiteux.] Consisting of, or resembling, pituite or mucus; full
of mucus; discharging mucus.