Punch and Judy
a puppet-show at one time popular, and exhibited frequently in the streets. The origin of the story of Punch and Judy is somewhat uncertain. An English ballad of the eighteenth century recounts the adventures of the couple, but certain authorities ascribe the story to Fiorillo, an Italian comedian of the seventeenth century. The tale runs that Punch in a fit of jealousy strangles his infant child. Judy attacks Punch to be avenged. Then Punch seizes a bludgeon and beats Judy to death, throwing the two bodies into the street. An officer finds the bodies, and Punch is shut up in prison. He makes his escape, however, and goes through various adventures, always happy and always getting the best of everyone. He drives the doctor who visits him when he is ill out of the house, has a set-to with Death, whom he beats, and finally outwits the Devil. "As pleased as Punch," has come to be a common expression.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Puncheon
a liquid measure of capacity containing from 84 to 120 gallons. PUNCHINELLO. See PUNCH.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Punctuation
the act, art, or method of punctuating or pointing a the act, art, or writing or discourse; se; method of dividing a discourse into sentences, clauses, etc., by means of points or stops. The first printed books had only arbitrary marks here and there, and it was not till the 16th century that an approach was made to the present system by the Manutii of Venice.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pungwe
a river of Portuguese East Africa, forming the principal waterway to Manicaland and Mashonaland; its mouth is situated about 25 miles N. E. of Sofala and 130 S. W. of the Zambezi delta.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Punic
the language of the Carthaginians. It was offshoot of the an mans Phœnician, belonging to the Canaanitish branch of the Semitic tongues.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Punishment
a penalty inflicted on a person for a crime or offense, by the authority to which the offender is subject; a penalty imposed in the enforceli ment or application of law.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Punjnud
the name given to the stream which pours into the Indus, about 70 miles above the Sind frontier, the combined waters of the five rivers, the Sutlej, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab, and the Jhelum.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Puno
capital of department of Puno, Peru, on shore of Lake Titicaca. Center of trade with Bolivia, and connected by rail with Arequipa. Little agriculture in department, but industries include gold and silver mining and stock breeding. Town has churches, college, and hospital. Pop. about 10,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Punt
a large, square-built, flatbottomed vessel, without masts, used as a lighter for conveying goods, etc., and propelled by poles. Also, a small, flatboat, with square ends, used in fishing, and propelled by poles. bottomed
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Punta Arenas
the name of several cities and towns: (1) The chief port of Costa Rica on the Pacific. The principal export is coffee, and after that india-rubber, hides, dye-woods, and tortoise-shell. Pop. (1916), about 20,000; (2) A town in Patagonia.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pupa
or PUPE, in entomology, the third stage in the development of an insect between the larva and the adult.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pupin
MICHAEL IDVORSKY, an American scientist; born in Idvar, Hungary, Oct. 4, 1858; was graduated at Columbia University in 1883; studied at the University of Berlin; and was appointed Adjunct Professor of Mechanics at Columbia University in 1889. In 1901 he announced the discovery of a new method of ocean telephony. He was a member of the American Mathematical Society, American Philosophical Society, etc. He wrote "Propagation of Long Electrical Waves"; "Wave Propagation Sea Voyages and Land Travels by Eng- Over Non-Uniform Conductors." Director Phenix Research Laboratories (1911). During the World War he placed his wireless inventions at the service of the U. S. Government (1917); was Honorary Consul-General of Serbia in New York. Organized a Serbian Relief Association at Columbia University (1915).
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Puppet Shows
the performances of images of the human figure moved by fingers, cords, or wires, with or without dialogue.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Purana
the last great division of Hindu sacred literature. Eighteen principal Purânas are enumerated, called Brahma, Padma, Brahmanda, Agni, Vishnu, Gâruda, Brahmavaivarta, Siva, Linga, Nâradîya, Skanda, Markandeya, Bhavishyat, Matsya, Vâraha, Kaurma, Vâman, and Bhagavat. None of them is dated. Some quote from others, and the period of their redaction embraces perhaps a dozen centuries. In their present form none of them appears older than the 9th century A. D. The most celebrated are the Vishnua and the Bhagavat Purânas.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Purbeck
ISLE OF, a peninsula S. of Dorsetshire, so separated from the mainland on the N. by Poole harbor and the Frome as to be connected with it by only a very narrow isthmus. It is about 12 miles long by 7 miles broad. The prevailing rock is limestone.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Purcell
HENRY, an English composer; born in 1658. He became organist of Westminster Abbey, and in 1882 of the chapel-royal. In 1680, probably, he composed "Dido and Æneas," which has been called the first genuine English opera. He composed mainly anthems and sacred music, all of great excellence. In 1690 he wrote the music for Dryden's version of "The Tempest." In 1691 he produced the music to Dryden's "King Arthur," considered his dramatic masterpiece. In 1694 he wrote his great works the Jubilate and Te Deum," 1695 music to "Bonduca," in which was "Britons, Strike Home." He died in 1695, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Purchas
SAMUEL, an English clergyman; born in Thaxted, Essex, England, in 1577. He was educated at Cambridge, and was rector of St. Martin's, London. His great works were "Purchas, His Pilgrimage, or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages" (1613); and "Hakluyt's Posthumus, or Purchas His Pilgrimes: Containing a History of the World, in lishmen and Others" (1625). Another work is "Purchas His Pilgrim: Microcosmus, or the History of Man; Relating the Wonders of His Generation, Varieties in His Degeneration, and Necessity of His Regeneration" (1619). He died in London, in September, 1626.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Purchase
in law, the suing out and obtaining a writ; the obtaining or acquiring the title of lands and tenements by money, deed, gift, or any means except descent. In mechanics, a means of increasing applied power; any mechanical hold, advantage, power, or force applied to the raising or removing of heavy bodies: mechanical advantage gained by the application of any power.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia