Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PA-VAN', n. [Sp. pavana, from pavon, L. pavo, a peacock.]

A grave dance among the Spaniards. In this dance, the performers make a kind of wheel before each other, the gentlemen dancing with cap and sword, princes with long robes, and the ladies with long trails; the motions resembling the stately steps of the peacock. – Encyc. Sp. Dict. Shak.

PAVE, v.t. [Fr. paver; L. pavio; Gr. παιω, to beat, to strike.]

1. To lay or cover with stone or brick so as to make a level or convenient surface for horses, carriages or foot passengers; to floor with brick, stone, or other solid material; as, to pave a street; to pave a side-walk.
2. To prepare a passage; to facilitate the introduction of. The invention of printing paved the way for intellectual improvement.

PAV-ED, pp.

Laid over with stones or bricks; prepared; as a way.

PAVE-MENT, n. [L. pavimentum.]

A floor or covering consisting of stones or bricks, laid on the earth in such a manner as to make hard and convenient passage; as, a pavement of pebbles, of bricks, or of marble.

PAVE-MENT, v.t.

To pave; to floor with stone or brick. [Unusual.] – Bp. Hall.

PAV-ER, or PAV-IER, n.

One who lays stones for a floor, or whose occupation is to pave. Gay.

PAV'ID, a. [L. pavidus.]

Timid. [Not used.]

PA-VID'I-TY, n.

Fearfulness. [Not used.]

PA-VIL'ION, n. [pavil'yun; Fr. pavillon; Sp. pabellon; Port. pavilham; Arm. pavilhon; W. pabell; It. paviglione and padiglione; L. papilio, a butterfly, and a pavilion. According to Owen, the Welsh pabell signifies a moving habitation.]

1. A tent; a temporary movable habitation.
2. In architecture, a kind of turret or building, usually insulated and contained under a single roof; sometimes square and sometimes in the form of a dome. Sometimes a pavilion is a projecting part in the front of a building; sometimes it flanks a corner. – Encyc.
3. In military affairs, a tent raised on posts. The word is sometimes used for a flag, colors, ensign or banner.
4. In heraldry, a covering in form of a tent, investing this armories of kings.
5. Among jewelers, the under side and corner of brilliants, lying between the girdle and collet.

PA-VIL'ION, v.t.

1. To furnish with tents. – Milton.
2. To shelter with a tent. – Pope.

PA-VIL'ION-ED, pp.

Furnished with pavilions; sheltered by a tent.

PAV-ING, n.

Pavement; a floor of stones or bricks.

PAV-ING, ppr.

Flooring with stones or bricks.

PA'VO, n. [L. a peacock; W. paw, spreading.]

A constellation in the southern hemisphere, consisting of fourteen stars; also, a fish.

PA-VONE, n. [L. pavo.]

A peacock. [Not used.] – Spenser.

PAV'O-NINE, a. [L. pavoninus, from pavo, a peacock.]

Resembling the tail of a peacock; iridescent. – Cleaveland.

PAW, n. [W. pawen, a paw, a hoof; Arm. pau; Hindoo, pauw; Pers. پَايْ pai, the foot; perhaps contracted from pad or pat, as the Dutch have poot, and the Fr. patte. If so, the word coincides in elements with L. pes, pedis, Gr. πους, Eng. foot, Gr. πατεω.]

1. The foot of beasts of prey having claws, as the lion, the tiger, the dog, cat, &c. – Lev. xi.
2. The hand; in contempt. – Dryden.

PAW, v.i.

To draw the fore foot along the ground; to scrape with the fore foot; as, a fiery horse, pawing with his hoof. – Swift. He paweth in the valley. – Job xxxix.

PAW, v.t.

1. To scrape with the fore foot. His hot courser paw'd th' Hungarian plain. – Tickel.
2. To handle roughly; to scratch.
3. To fawn; to flatter. – Ainsworth.

PAW'ED, a.

1. Having paws.
2. Broad footed. – Johnson.

PAW'ING, ppr.

Scraping with the foot.

PAWK'Y, a. [from Sax. pæcan, to deceive.]

Arch; cunning. [Local.] – Grose.

PAWL, n. [W. pawl, Eng. pole, L. palus. See Pole.]

Among seamen, a short bar of wood or iron fixed close to the capstan or windlass of a ship to prevent it from rolling back or giving way. – Mar. Dict.

PAWN, n. [D. pand; G. pfand; Sw. pant; Port. penhor; It. pegno; Sp. empeño; L. pignus. The sense may be that which is laid down or deposited.]

1. Something given or deposited as security for the payment of money borrowed; a pledge. Pawn is applied only to goods, chattels or money, and not to real estate. Men will not take pawns without use. – Bacon.
2. A pledge for the fulfillment of a promise. – Shak.
3. A common man at chess. [See Peon.] – Cowley. In pawn, at pawn, the state of being pledged. Sweet wife, my honor is at pawn. – Shak.

PAWN, v.t. [D. panden; Sp. empeñar; Port. empenhar; It. impegnare; L. pignero.]

1. To gave or deposit in pledge, or as security for the payment of money borrowed; to pledge; as, she pawned the last piece of plate.
2. To pledge for the fulfillment of a promise; as, to pawn one's word or honor that an agreement shall be fulfilled.