Pointal to Poker
Pointal
(Point"al) n. [From Point: cf. F. pointal an upright wooden prop, OF. pointille a prick or prickle.]
1. (Bot.) The pistil of a plant.
2. A kind of pencil or style used with the tablets of the Middle Ages. "A pair of tablets [i. e., tablets] . . .
and a pointel." Chaucer.
3. (Arch.) See Poyntel. [Obs. or R.]
Point-blank
(Point`-blank") n. [F. point point + blanc white.]
1. The white spot on a target, at which an arrow or other missile is aimed. [Obs.] Jonson.
2. (Mil.) (a) With all small arms, the second point in which the natural line of sight, when horizontal,
cuts the trajectory. (b) With artillery, the point where the projectile first strikes the horizontal plane on
which the gun stands, the axis of the piece being horizontal.
Point-blank
(Point`-blank"), a.
1. Directed in a line toward the object aimed at; aimed directly toward the mark.
2. Hence, direct; plain; unqualified; — said of language; as, a point-blank assertion.
Point-blank range, the extent of the apparent right line of a ball discharged. — Point-blank shot,
the shot of a gun pointed directly toward the object to be hit.
Point-blank
(Point`-blank"), adv. In a point- blank manner.
To sin point-blank against God's word.
Fuller. Point d'appui
(Point` d'ap`pui") [F.] (Mil.) See under Appui.
Point-device
(Point`-de*vice", Point`-de*vise") a. [OE. at point devis; at at + point point, condition +
devis exact, careful, OF. devis fixed, set. See Device.] Uncommonly nice and exact; precise; particular.
You are rather point-devise in your accouterments.
Shak.
Thus he grew up, in logic point-devise,
Perfect in grammar, and in rhetoric nice.
Longfellow. Point-device
(Point`-de*vice", Point`-de*vise"), adv. Exactly. [Obs.] Shak.
Pointed
(Point"ed) a.
1. Sharp; having a sharp point; as, a pointed rock.
2. Characterized by sharpness, directness, or pithiness of expression; terse; epigrammatic; especially,
directed to a particular person or thing.
His moral pleases, not his pointed wit.
Pope. Pointed arch (Arch.), an arch with a pointed crown. — Pointed style (Arch.), a name given to that
style of architecture in which the pointed arch is the predominant feature; — more commonly called Gothic.
— Point"ed*ly, adv. — Point"ed*ness, n.
Pointel
(Point"el) n. [From Point. Cf. Pointal.] See Pointal.
