Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PLASH'Y, a.

Watery; abounding with puddles. – Sandys.

PLASM, n. [Gr. πλασμα, from πλασσω, to form.]

A mold or matrix in which any thing is cast or formed to a particular shape. [Little used.] – Woodward.

PLAS'MA, n.

A silicious mineral of a color between grass-green and leek-green, occurring in angular pieces in beds, associated with common chalcedony, and among the ruins of Rome. – Ure.

PLAS-MA'TIC, or PLAS-MAT'IC-AL, a.

Giving shape; having the power of giving form. More.

PLAS'TER, n. [G. pflaster; D. pleistre; Sw. plåster; Dan. plaster; Fr. plâtre; Arm. plastr; W. plastyr; Ir. plastar, plastrail; Sp. emplasto; Port. id. or emprasto; It. impiastro; L. emplastrum; Gr. εμπλαστρον, from εμπλασσω, to daub or smear, properly to lay or spread on; πλασσω, to daub or to fashion, mold or shape.]

1. A composition of lime, water and sand, well mixed into a kind of paste and used for coating walls and partitions of houses. This composition when dry becomes hard, but still retains the name of plaster. Plaster is sometimes made of different materials, as chalk, gypsum, &c. and is sometimes used to parget the whole surface of a building.
2. In pharmacy, an external application of a harder consistence than an ointment, to be spread, according to different circumstances, either on linen or leather. – Encyc. Plaster of Paris, a composition of several species of gypsum dug near Montmartre, near Paris in France, used in building and in casting busts and statues. In popular language, this name is applied improperly to plaster-stone, or to any species of gypsum.

PLAS'TER, v.t.

1. To overlay with plaster, as the partitions of a house, walls, &c.
2. To cover with plaster, as a wound.
3. In popular language, to smooth over; to cover or conceal defects or irregularities.

PLAS'TER-ED, pp.

Overlaid with plaster.

PLAS'TER-ER, n.

1. One that overlays with plaster.
2. One that makes figures in plaster. – Wotton.

PLAS'TER-ING, n.

1. The act or operation of overlaying with plaster.
2. The plaster-work of a building; a covering of plaster.

PLAS'TER-ING, ppr.

Covering with or laying on plaster.

PLAS'TER-STONE, n. [Gypsum, – which see.]

This when pulverized is extensively used as a manure.

PLAS'TIC, a. [Gr. πλαστικος, from πλασσω, to form.]

Having the power to give form or fashion to a mass of matter; as, the plastic hand of the Creator; the plastic virtue of nature. – Prior. Woodward.

PLAS-TIC'I-TY, n.

The quality of giving form or shape to matter. – Encyc.

PLAS-TOG'RA-PHY, n.

The act of forming figures in plaster.

PLAS'TRON, n. [See Plaster.]

A piece of leather stuffed; used by fencers to defend the body against pushes. – Dryden.

PLAT, a.

Plain; flat. [Not used.] – Chaucer.

PLAT, adv.

1. Plainly; flatly; downright. [Not used.] – Chaucer.
2. Smoothly; evenly. [Not used.] – Drant.

PLAT, or PLAT'TING, n.

Work done by platting or interweaving.

PLAT, n. [Dan. and D. plat, flat; Fr. id.; G. platt; W. plad, plâs; Gr. πλατυς, broad, L. latus; or from the root of place, G. platz. See Plot, the same word differently written. But probably these are all of one family. Τhe sense is laid, spread.]

A small piece of ground, usually a portion of flat even ground; as, a flowery plat; a plat of willows. – Milton. Spectator.

PLAT, v.t. [from plait, or plat, flat.]

To weave; to form by texture. – Matth. xxvii. Ray. Spectator.

PLA'TANE, n. [L. platanus.]

The plane-tree, – which see. – Milton.

PLAT'BAND, n.

1. A border of flowers in a garden, along a wall or the side of a parterre.
2. In architecture, a flat square molding whose highth much exceeds its projecture, such as the faces of an architrave.
3. The lintel of a door or window.
4. A list or fillet between the flutings of a column. – Cyc.

PLATE, n. [D. plaat, G. platte, plate; Sw. platt; Dan. and D. plat, G. platt, flat; It. piatto, flat, and piastra; Sp. plata; Ir. id.; W. plâd, a plate; probably allied to Gr. πλατυς, L. latus, with the radical sense of laid, spread.]

1. A piece of metal, flat or extended in breadth. – Bacon. South.
2. Armor of plate, composed of broad pieces, and thus distinguished from mail. – Spenser.
3. A piece of wrought silver; as a dish or other shallow vessel; hence, vessels of silver; wrought silver in general. Plate, by the laws of some states, is subject to a tax by the ounce.
4. A small shallow vessel, made of silver or other metal, or of earth glazed and baked, from which provisions are eaten at table. A wooden plate is called a trencher.
5. The prize given for the best horse in a race.
6. In architecture, the piece of timber which supports the ends of the rafters. [See Platform.]
7. For Copperplate, a printed representation or impression from an engraved plate.
8. A page of stereotype or fixed metallic types for printing.
9. [In heraldry, a roundel of silver. – E. H. B.]

PLATE, v.t.

1. To cover or overlay with plate or with metal; used particularly of silver; as, plated vessels.
2. To arm with plate or metal for defense; as, to plate sin with gold. – Shak. Why plated in habiliments of war? – Shak.
3. To adorn with plate; as a plated harness.
4. To beat into thin flat pieces or lamins. – Dryden. Newton.

PLA-TEAU, n. [platto'; Fr. a platter.]

1. A plain; a flat surface.
2. A tray.
3. A tea board.