More than one of these 7 encyclopedias carries each of the following subjects — but every one of them treats it in a sentence or two and then moves on. They are gathered here so the different accounts can sit side by side.
Pipe
Aiton's Encyclopedia: an implement for smoking tobacco. It consists essentially of a bowl, in which the tobacco is burned, and a stem, through which the smoke is drawn. The clay pipe and the corncob pipe are well known popular varieties. Immense porcelain pipes. often highly decorated, are favorites with the Germans. The oriental hooka is the largest pipe of all. The bowl rests in a reservoir filled with water, through which the smoke is drawn and cooled before reaching the mouth. According to the last census the manufacture of pipes and smokers' implements in the United States amounts to about $3,000,000 a year. There are large importations, also, of smokers' articles. See Meerschaum ; Briar Root; Pipestone Sandpile smoker. Pipe East African water pipe. Pipe Eskimo pipe. Pipe Native pipe, New Guinea. Pipe
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a long hollow body or tube, made of various materials, as earthenware, iron, lead, copper, glass, etc. The name applied especially to tubes for the conveyance of water, gas, steam, and the like. Also a wind instrument of music, consisting of a tube of wood or metal. The tubes of an organ are called organ pipes or pipes. Also, a running vein in a mine, having a rock root and sole, and called a pipe vein.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pipe Clay
The Encyclopedia of Founding: A clay of a grayish-white color, greasy to the touch, very plastic, and free from iron and other impurities. Its principal use is for making white pottery and tobacco-pipes. See FELDSPAR; KAOLIN; POTTERY-MOULDING; ETC.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a variety of clay adapted by its plasticity and freedom from impurities for the manufacture of pipes.
Covered by The Encyclopedia of Founding and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pique
Aiton's Encyclopedia: pe-ka', a stout cotton fabric ornamented with a rib, or small pattern in relief. The name pique is from a French word meaning to prick, and was given from a resemblance in the pattern of this fabric to quilting, which the French call pique, pricked. As in a quilted fabric the portions between the stiches stand up, so the pattern in woven pique stands up; which effect is produced by an extra set of warp threads which are somewhat slacker than the main set. Pique is used for women's and children's suits and men's waistcoats. Fleece-lined pique is finished on the back with a nap. Printed pique is a light weight, printed in colors. Marseilles is similar in weave to pique, but is coarser and heavier. It is finished with considerable starch.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a French material, made of two cotton threads, one thicker than the other, which are woven, and united at certain points, and there made an extra thickness.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Piraeus
1000 Classical Characters: A celebrated harbor at Athens about three miles from the city. It was joined to the town by two walls, one built by Pericles , and the other by Themistocles . 2026 Editor's Note: The Long Walls were destroyed by the Spartans in 403 BC after Athens' defeat in the Peloponnesian War. They were rebuilt with Persian support during the Corinthian War in 395–391 BC. (Ed: BR 2026-07-11)
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Athens
Covered by 1000 Classical Characters and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Pirithous
Aiton's Encyclopedia: pi-rith'o-us, in Greek legend, the king of the Lapithae in Thessaly. It was at his wedding to Hippodamia that the famous battle between the Lapithae and the Centaurs occurred. After Hippodamia's death Pirithous and his friend Theseus determined to wed daughters of Zeus. Theseus carried off Helen from Sparta, Pirithous aiding him. Pirithous thought he would like to get possession of Persephone, wife of Hades. The two friends descended, therefore, to the lower world, but they had been too bold. Hades seized them and fastened them to a rock. When Hercules visited Hades at a later time he released Theseus, but there was no help for Pirithous. Castor and Pollux recovered their sister, Helen, and took her home again.
1000 Classical Characters: Son of Ixion and Dia, the daughter of Deioneus. He was king of the Lapithae, and wished to become acquainted with Theseus , king of Athens , of whose fame and exploits he had heard. They became cordial friends. Pirithous married Hippodamia , and invited the Centaurs to attend his nuptials, where, having become intoxicated, they behaved with great rudeness, on which they were attacked and overcome by Theseus, Pirithous, Hercules , and the rest of the Lapithae. Many of the Centaurs were slain, and the rest saved their lives by flight.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Pith
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the cylindrical or angular column of cellular tissues at or near the center of the stem of a plant, also called the medulla. When examined microscopically it presents in section a union of cells resembling those of a honeycomb, of which a good example is afforded by Chinese rice paper, the pith of the Aralia papyrifera. ERECTUS, PITHECANTHROPUS the name given to the fossil remains of a prehistoric animal found in Java, and which represent a form intermediate between man and the higher apes.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: the central portion of many plants, as of the elder, cornstalk, palm tree, etc. The principal service of pith to the plant is as a storehouse of starch. See Cellulose
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Pittacus
1000 Classical Characters: A native of Mitylene in Lesbos, and one of the seven wise men of Greece. He died in the eighty-second year of his age, about 570 years before Christ, the latter part of his life being spent in retirement. Many of his maxims were inscribed on the walls of Apollo 's temple at Delphi , to show how high an opinion his countrymen entertained of his abilities as a moralist and philosopher. Plancius, Cn. He was defended by Cicero B. C. 54, in an oration still extant, when he was accused of having practiced bribery in order to gain his election as curule aedile. Plancus, L. Munatius. A Roman conspicuous for his follies and extravagance. He had been consul, and had presided over a province, but he forgot his dignity and became one of the most servile flatterers of Antony and Cleopatra .
Collier's New Encyclopedia: one of the seven sages of Greece; born in Mitylene, in the island of Lesbos, about 650 b. c. He was a warrior as well as a philosopher, expelled the tyrant Melantheus from Lesbos; and on becoming its sovereign, 590 B. c., discharged the duties of his station in the most exemplary manner; retired after a reign of 10 years, and died 570 B. c.
Covered by 1000 Classical Characters and Collier's New Encyclopedia