| plagiostomi | <zoology> An order of fishes including the sharks and rays. Synonym: Plagiostomata. Origin: NL, from Gr. Slanting +, mouth. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| plagiostomous | <zoology> Of or pertaining to the Plagiostomi. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| plagiotremata | <zoology> Same as Lepidosauria. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. Slanting +, a hole. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| plagiotropic | <botany> Having the longer axis inclined away from the vertical line. Origin: Gr. Aslant + to turn. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| plague | 1. To infest or afflict with disease, calamity, or natural evil of any kind. "Thus were they plagued And worn with famine." (Milton) 2. To vex; to tease; to harass. "She will plague the man that loves her most." (Spenser) Synonym: To vex, torment, distress, afflict, harass, annoy, tease, tantalize, trouble, molest, embarrass, perplex. Origin: Plagued; Plaguing. 1. That which smites, wounds, or troubles; a blow; a calamity; any afflictive evil or torment; a great trail or vexation. "And men blasphemed God for the plague of hail." (Wyclif) "The different plague of each calamity." (Shak) 2. <medicine> An acute malignant contagious fever, that often prevails in Egypt, Syria, and Turkey, and has at times visited the large cities of Europe with frightful mortality; hence, any pestilence; as, the great London plague. "A plague upon the people fell." Cattle plague. See Rinderpest. Plague mark, Plague spot, a spot or mark of the plague; hence, a token of something incurable. Origin: L. Plaga a blow, stroke, plague; akin to Gr, fr. To strike; cf. L. Plangere to strike, beat. Cf. Plaint. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| plague bacillus | The bacterial cause of the bubonic plague which in the year 541 (as the black death) and later in the middle ages decimated europe. The effects of the plague are described in the nursery rhyme we all fall down. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of fleas that have fed on infected animals, mostly rodents. Plague occurs in the u.s. It is treatable with antibiotics but, if not treated promptly, can promptly lead to death. (12 Dec 1998) |
| plague pneumonia | A rapidly progressive and frequently fatal form of plague in which there are areas of pulmonary consolidation, with chill, pain in the side, bloody expectoration, and high fever. Synonym: plague pneumonia, pulmonic plague. (05 Mar 2000) |
| plague septicaemia | Infection with the plague organism, Yersinia pestis, with blood-stream infection. (05 Mar 2000) |
| plague vaccine | A suspension of killed yersinia pestis used for immunizing people in enzootic plague areas. (12 Dec 1998) |
| plague, black | In the 14th century the victims of the black plague had bleeding below the skin (subcutaneous haemorrhage) which made darkened ( blackened ) their bodies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| plague, bubonic | The most common form of the plague named for the characteristic buboes which are enlarged lymph nodes ( swollen glands ) in the groin that aretender and painful. Lymph nodes may be similarly affected in the armpits (axillae), neck and elsewhere. Other features of the bubonic plague include headache, fever, chills, and weakness. The odd word bubo comes from the greek boubon meaning groin or swollen groin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| plague, great | The Great Plague that swept London in 1665 was probably not really the plague but rather typhus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| plague, sylvatic | Plague that is spread by ground squirrels and other wild rodents, for example, in the western portion of the united states. Sylvatic has to do with sylvan, the woods. (12 Dec 1998) |
| plaice | <zoology> A European food fish (Pleuronectes platessa), allied to the flounder, and growing to the weight of eight or ten pounds or more. A large American flounder (Paralichthys dentatus; called also brail, puckermouth, and summer flounder. The name is sometimes applied to other allied species. Alternative forms: plaise] Plaice mouth, a mouth like that of a plaice; a small or wry mouth. Origin: F. Plaise, plais, prob. Fr. L. Platessa flatish, plaice. See Place. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| plaid | 1. A rectangular garment or piece of cloth, usually made of the checkered material called tartan, but sometimes of plain gray, or gray with black stripes. It is worn by both sexes in Scotland. 2. Goods of any quality or material of the pattern of a plaid or tartan; a checkered cloth or pattern. Origin: Gael. Plaide a blanket or plaid, contr. Fr. Peallaid a sheepskin, fr. Peall a skin or hide. CF. Pillion. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |