Picumnus (pikumnus)

[NL. (Temminck), IMG:content-0139.png:[blocks in formation] 4477 present used: (a) for the generic group of which the great black woodpecker of Europe, Picus martius, is the type, otherwise called Dryocopus (see cut under Dryocopus ); (b) for a large series of smaller species, spotted with black and white, such as P. major and P. minor of Europe, and the hairy and downy woodpeckers of America, P. villosus and P. pubescens. piddle (pid'l), v. i.; pret. and pp. piddled, ppr. piddling. [A var. of pittle, the variation being due perhaps to a ociation with peddle. Cf. peddling, var. of piddling.] 1. To deal in trifles; spend time in a trifling way or about trifling or unimportant matters; attend to trivial concerns, or to the small parts rather than to the main; trifle. She plays and sings too, dances and discourses, Comes very near e ays, a pretty poet, Begins to piddle with philosophy. Fletcher, Wit without Money, i. 2. 2t. To pick at table; eat squeamishly or without appetite. Swift. Content with little, I can piddle here On brocoli and mutton, round the year. Pope, Imit. of Horace, II. ii. 137. 3. To make water; urinate: a childish word. piddler (pid'lėr), n. [ Coz. You are good at the sport. Cal. Who, I? a piddler , sir. Mas singer , Great Duke of Florence, iv. 2. 2. A squeamish eater. piece Pies are sometimes made without the under thin layer of pastry. See pudding, tart, and turnover. Kokes and here knaues crieden "hote pyes , hote! Good goos and grys go we dyne, go we!" Piers Plowman (C), i. 226. Mincing of meat in pies saveth the grinding of the teeth. Bacon . End now the white loafe and the pye , And let all sports with Christmas dye. Herrick, Upon Candle ma e Day. And then there were apple pies and peach pies and pumpkin pies ; besides slices of ham and smoked beef. Irving , Sketch-Book, p. 440. The pie is an English institution, which, planted on American soil, forthwith ran rampant and burst forth into an untold variety of genera and species. H. B. Stowe , Oldtown, p. 342. 2. A mound or pit for keeping potatoes. Halli well; Jamie son. [Prov. Eng. and Scotch.] -3. A compost-heap. [Prov. Eng.] - A finger in the pie. See finger. - Minced pie. See mince - pie. - Périgord pie, a pie flavored with truffles, which are most abundantly found in Périgord, France. To eat humble pie. See humble - pic.