The Poetaster eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 208 pages of information about The Poetaster.

The Poetaster eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 208 pages of information about The Poetaster.

Petulant, pert, insolent.

Phere.  See Fere.

PHLEGMA, watery distilled liquor (old chem. “water").

Phrenetic, madman.

PICARDIL, stiff upright collar fastened on to the coat
(Whalley).

Pict-Hatch, disreputable quarter of London.

Piece, person, used for woman or girl; a gold coin
worth in Jonson’s time 20s. or 22s.

Pieces of eight, Spanish coin:  piastre equal to eight
reals.

Pied, variegated.

Pie-POUDRES (Fr. pied-poudreux, dusty-foot), court held at fairs to administer justice to itinerant vendors and buyers.

Pilcher, term of contempt; one who wore a buff or leather jerkin, as did the serjeants of the counter; a pilferer.

Piled, pilled, peeled, bald.

PILL’D, polled, fleeced.

Pimlico, “sometimes spoken of as a person—­perhaps
master of a house famous for a particular ale” (Gifford).

Pine, afflict, distress.

Pink, stab with a weapon; pierce or cut in scallops for ornament.

Pinnace, a go-between in infamous sense.

Pismire, ant.

PISTOLET, gold coin, worth about 6s.

Pitch, height of a bird of prey’s flight.

Plague, punishment, torment.

Plain, lament.

Plain song, simple melody.

PLAISE, plaice.

Planet, “struck with a—­,” planets were supposed to
have powers of blasting or exercising secret influences.

Plausible, pleasing.

Plausibly, approvingly.

Plot, plan.

Ply, apply oneself to.

Poesie, posy, motto inside a ring.

Point in his device, exact in every particular.

Points, tagged laces or cords for fastening the breeches to the doublet.

Point-trusser, one who trussed (tied) his master’s
points (q.v.).

Poise, weigh, balance.

Poking-stick, stick used for setting the plaits of ruffs.

Politic, politician.

Politic, judicious, prudent, political.

Politician, plotter, intriguer.

Poll, strip, plunder, gain by extortion.

Pomander, ball of perfume, worn or hung about the
person to prevent infection, or for foppery.

POMMADO, vaulting on a horse without the aid of stirrups.

Pontic, sour.

Popular, vulgar, of the populace.

Populous, numerous.

Port, gate; print of a deer’s foot.

Port, transport.

PORTAGUE, Portuguese gold coin, worth over 3 or 4
pounds.

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The Poetaster from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.