pilewort (pilwert)

One of the buttercups, Ranunculus Ficaria, common in Europe and western Asia. It produces annually grain-like tubers, sometimes gathered for food, and locally fancied to have fallen from above. Also called celandine and figwort. Great pilewort, an old name of the figwort Scrophularia nodosa. pilfer (pil'fer), v. [ Every string is told, For fear some pilf'ring hand should make too bold. Dryden . The Malayans, who inhabit on both sides the Streights of Malacca, are in general a bold people: and yet I do not find any of them addicted to Robbery, but only the pilfer ing poorer sort. Dampier , Voyages, II. i. 165. II. trans. To steal or gain by petty theft; filch. He would not pilfer the victory, and the defeat was easy. Bacon . One who pilfers or pilferer (pil'fer-ér), n . practises petty theft. To glory some advance a lying claim, Thieves of renown and pilferers of fame. Young, Love of Fame, iii. 88. =Syn. Thief, etc. See robber. pilferingly (pil'fer-ing-li), adv. In a pilfering manner; with petty theft; filchingly. pilferyt (pil'fer-i), n. [ They eat bread, and drunk water, as a wholesome penance, enjoined them by their confe ors, for base pilferies . B. Jonson, Volpone, ii. 1. Proue it when you will, you slow spirited Saturnists, that haue nothing but the pilfries of your penne to pollish an exhortation with all, no eloquence but tautologies to tye the eares of your auditory vnto you. Nashe, Pierce Penile e, p. 40.