| porpita | <zoology> A genus of bright-coloured Siphonophora found floating in the warmer parts of the ocean. The individuals are round and disk-shaped, with a large zooid in the center of the under side, surrounded by smaller nutritive and reproductive zooids, and by slender dactylozooids near the margin. The disk contains a central float, or pneumatocyst. Origin: NL, from Gr. Brooch. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| porpoise | 1. <zoology> Any small cetacean of the genus Phocaena, especially P. Communis, or P. Phocaena, of Europe, and the closely allied American species (P. Americana). The colour is dusky or blackish above, paler beneath. They are closely allied to the dolphins, but have a shorter snout. Synonym: harbor porpoise, herring hag, puffing pig, and snuffer. 2. <zoology> A true dolphin (Delphinus); often so called by sailors. <zoology> Skunk porpoise, or Bay porpoise, a North American porpoise (Lagenorhynchus acutus), larger than the common species, and with broad stripes of white and yellow on the sides. Origin: OE. Porpeys, OF. Porpeis, literally, hog fish, from L. Porcus swine + piscis fish. See Pork, and Fish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| porpoises | Mammals of the family phocoenidae comprising four genera and six species found in the north pacific ocean and both sides of the north atlantic ocean and in various other seas. They differ from dolphins in that porpoises have a blunt snout and a rather stocky body while dolphins have a beaklike snout and a slender, streamlined body. They usually travel in small groups. (12 Dec 1998) |
| porporino | A composition of quicksilver, tin, and sulphur, forming a yellow powder, sometimes used by mediaeval artists, for the sake of economy, instead of gold. Origin: It. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| porrigo | An obsolete term for any disease of the scalp; e.g., ringworm, favus, eczema. Origin: L. Scurf, dandruff (05 Mar 2000) |
| porrigo decalvans | An obsolete term for alopecia areata. (05 Mar 2000) |
| porrigo favosa | 1. <dermatology> A disease of the scalp, produced by a vegetable parasite. 2. A tile or flagstone cut into an hexagonal shape to produce a honeycomb pattern, as in a pavement. Synonym: favas and sectila. Origin: L, honeycomb. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| porrigo furfurans | Tinea capitis or tinea corporis caused by Trichophyton tonsurans; characterised by small plaques and fewer broken off hairs than in tinea capitis caused by other species. Synonym: porrigo furfurans. (05 Mar 2000) |
| porrigo larvalis | Eczema of the scalp. (05 Mar 2000) |
| porrigo lupinosa | 1. <dermatology> A disease of the scalp, produced by a vegetable parasite. 2. A tile or flagstone cut into an hexagonal shape to produce a honeycomb pattern, as in a pavement. Synonym: favas and sectila. Origin: L, honeycomb. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| porrigo scutulata | 1. <dermatology> A disease of the scalp, produced by a vegetable parasite. 2. A tile or flagstone cut into an hexagonal shape to produce a honeycomb pattern, as in a pavement. Synonym: favas and sectila. Origin: L, honeycomb. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Porro hysterectomy | Cesarean section followed by hysterectomy. Synonym: Porro hysterectomy, Porro operation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Porro operation | Cesarean section followed by hysterectomy. Synonym: Porro hysterectomy, Porro operation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Porro, Edoardo | <person> Italian obstetrician, 1842-1902. See: Porro hysterectomy, Porro operation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| port | This is an implated access device which allows professional carers to draw blood and make intravenous (or intra-arterial) injections into a patient in an easier way without having to locate and insert a canulla into a new vessel. Some ports are connected for intrathecal, intraperitoneal or intracavitary injections. These devices are expensive and are not free of problems, they should not be implated without good indications. Normally implantation is performed by a surgeon with experience in this technique, in a operational theatre under local anaesthetic. (16 Dec 1997) |