Poor soldier

Friar \Fri"ar\, n. [OR. frere, F. fr[`e]re brother, friar, fr.
   L. frater brother. See {Brother}.]
   1. (R. C. Ch.) A brother or member of any religious order,
      but especially of one of the four mendicant orders, viz:
      {(a) Minors, Gray Friars, or Franciscans.} {(b)
      Augustines}. {(c) Dominicans or Black Friars.} {(d) White
      Friars or Carmelites.} See these names in the Vocabulary.
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   2. (Print.) A white or pale patch on a printed page.
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   3. (Zool.) An American fish; the silversides.
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   {Friar bird} (Zool.), an Australian bird ({Tropidorhynchus
      corniculatus}), having the head destitute of feathers; --
      called also {coldong}, {leatherhead}, {pimlico}; {poor
      soldier}, and {four-o'clock}. The name is also applied to
      several other species of the same genus.

   {Friar's balsam} (Med.), a stimulating application for wounds
      and ulcers, being an alcoholic solution of benzoin,
      styrax, tolu balsam, and aloes; compound tincture of
      benzoin. --Brande & C.

   {Friar's cap} (Bot.), the monkshood.

   {Friar's cowl} (Bot.), an arumlike plant ({Arisarum vulgare})
      with a spathe or involucral leaf resembling a cowl.

   {Friar's lantern}, the ignis fatuus or Will-o'-the-wisp.
      --Milton.

   {Friar skate} (Zool.), the European white or sharpnosed skate
      ({Raia alba}); -- called also {Burton skate}, {border
      ray}, {scad}, and {doctor}.
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Poor \Poor\, a. [Compar. {Poorer} (?; 254); superl. {Poorest}.]
   [OE. poure or povre, OF. povre, F. pauvre, L. pauper; the
   first syllable of which is probably akin to paucus few (see
   {Paucity}, {Few}), and the second to parare to prepare,
   procure. See {Few}, and cf. {Parade}, {Pauper}, {Poverty}.]
   1. Destitute of property; wanting in material riches or
      goods; needy; indigent.
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   Note: It is often synonymous with indigent and with
         necessitous denoting extreme want. It is also applied
         to persons who are not entirely destitute of property,
         but who are not rich; as, a poor man or woman; poor
         people.
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   2. (Law) So completely destitute of property as to be
      entitled to maintenance from the public.
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   3. Hence, in very various applications: Destitute of such
      qualities as are desirable, or might naturally be
      expected; as:
      (a) Wanting in fat, plumpness, or fleshiness; lean;
          emaciated; meager; as, a poor horse, ox, dog, etc.
          "Seven other kine came up after them, poor and very
          ill-favored and lean-fleshed." --Gen. xli. 19.
      (b) Wanting in strength or vigor; feeble; dejected; as,
          poor health; poor spirits. "His genius . . . poor and
          cowardly." --Bacon.
      (c) Of little value or worth; not good; inferior; shabby;
          mean; as, poor clothes; poor lodgings. "A poor
          vessel." --Clarendon.
      (d) Destitute of fertility; exhausted; barren; sterile; --
          said of land; as, poor soil.
      (e) Destitute of beauty, fitness, or merit; as, a poor
          discourse; a poor picture.
      (f) Without prosperous conditions or good results;
          unfavorable; unfortunate; unconformable; as, a poor
          business; the sick man had a poor night.
      (g) Inadequate; insufficient; insignificant; as, a poor
          excuse.
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                That I have wronged no man will be a poor plea
                or apology at the last day.       --Calamy.
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   4. Worthy of pity or sympathy; -- used also sometimes as a
      term of endearment, or as an expression of modesty, and
      sometimes as a word of contempt.
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            And for mine own poor part,
            Look you, I'll go pray.               --Shak.
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            Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing. --Prior.
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   5. Free from self-assertion; not proud or arrogant; meek.
      "Blessed are the poor in spirit." --Matt. v. 3.
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   {Poor law}, a law providing for, or regulating, the relief or
      support of the poor.

   {Poor man's treacle} (Bot.), garlic; -- so called because it
      was thought to be an antidote to animal poison. [Eng]
      --Dr. Prior.

   {Poor man's weatherglass} (Bot.), the red-flowered pimpernel
      ({Anagallis arvensis}), which opens its blossoms only in
      fair weather.

   {Poor rate}, an assessment or tax, as in an English parish,
      for the relief or support of the poor.

   {Poor soldier} (Zool.), the friar bird.

   {The poor}, those who are destitute of property; the
      indigent; the needy. In a legal sense, those who depend on
      charity or maintenance by the public. "I have observed the
      more public provisions are made for the poor, the less
      they provide for themselves." --Franklin.
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