from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Peter \Pe"ter\ (p[=e]"t[~e]r), prop. n.
A common baptismal name for a man. The name of one of the
twelve apostles of Christ.
[1913 Webster]
{Peter boat}, a fishing boat, sharp at both ends, originally
of the Baltic Sea, but now common in certain English
rivers.
{Peter Funk}, the auctioneer in a mock auction. [Cant, U.S.]
{Peter pence}, or {Peter's pence}.
(a) An annual tax or tribute, formerly paid by the English
people to the pope, being a penny for every house,
payable on Lammas or St. Peter's day; -- called also
{Rome scot}, and {hearth money}.
(b) In modern times, a voluntary contribution made by Roman
Catholics to the private purse of the pope.
{Peter's fish} (Zool.), a haddock; -- so called because the
black spots, one on each side, behind the gills, are
traditionally said to have been caused by the fingers of
St. Peter, when he caught the fish to pay the tribute. The
name is applied, also, to other fishes having similar
spots.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hearth \Hearth\ (h[aum]rth), n. [OE. harthe, herth, herthe, AS.
heor[eth]; akin to D. haard, heerd, Sw. h[aum]rd, G. herd;
cf. Goth. ha['u]ri a coal, Icel. hyrr embers, and L. cremare
to burn.]
1. The pavement or floor of brick, stone, or metal in a
chimney, on which a fire is made; the floor of a
fireplace; also, a corresponding part of a stove.
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There was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
--Jer. xxxvi.
22.
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Where fires thou find'st unraked and hearths
unswept.
There pinch the maids as blue as bilberry. --Shak.
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2. The house itself, as the abode of comfort to its inmates
and of hospitality to strangers; fireside.
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Household talk and phrases of the hearth.
--Tennyson.
3. (Metal. & Manuf.) The floor of a furnace, on which the
material to be heated lies, or the lowest part of a
melting furnace, into which the melted material settles;
as, an open-hearth smelting furnace.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
{Hearth ends} (Metal.), fragments of lead ore ejected from
the furnace by the blast.
{Hearth money}, {Hearth penny} [AS. heor[eth]pening], a tax
formerly laid in England on hearths, each hearth (in all
houses paying the church and poor rates) being taxed at
two shillings; -- called also {chimney money}, etc.
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He had been importuned by the common people to
relieve them from the . . . burden of the hearth
money. --Macaulay.
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