Obeah
Obeah is a form of witchcraft practised in the Caribbean.
Oboe
The oboe is a musical instrument of the woodwind family.
Obsidian
Obsidian is volcanic glass.
Ocarina
The ocarina is a small wind instrument consisting of a pipe pierced with holes for the fingers. They are usually made of terra-cotta, but sometimes of metal.
Occlusion
Occlusion is the property possessed by certain solids, notably some metals, of retaining gases either within the solid or on the surface. There is no chemical combination in the accepted sense.
Octroi
Ode
Ohm
Ohm's law
Oil
Old Maid
Olefines
Oleic acid
Oligarchy
Oligocene
Olpe
Olympic Games
Omber
Omega
Omega-minus particle
Omelette
Omnibus
Oncology
Ondograph
Oneg Shabbat
Opera
Ophicleide
Opium
Optophone
Order of the Garter
Ordovician
Organic
Organic Chemistry
Origami
Ormolu
Ornithology
Orris Root
Orthicon
Ortho-Toluidine
Osmiridium
Osmium
Ounce
Overcoil
Oxalic acid
Oxidation
Oxidise
Oxygen
Oxytocin
Ozone
P Band
Pacemaker
Packet
Packet Switched Network
Packet Switching
Pahari
Palaeocene
Palaeography
Palaeontology
Pali
Palindrome
Palladium
Palm Kernel Oil
Palm Oil
Palmitic Acid
Pampas
Pancratium
Pantothenic acid
Pantoum
Para-cresol
Paracetamol
Paradichlorobenzene
Paraffin
Parallax
Parallel Transmission
Parchment
Parity
Parity Bit
Parity Check
Parsec
Pasteurisation
Patten
Pcp
PDS
Peat
Peck
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate
Pentagon
Pentathlon
Pentode
Pentose
Penumbra
Perception
Percolator
Pericarp
Perigee
Perigynous
Perikon Detector
Permafrost
Permaid
Permalloy
Permanganate
Permian
Persimmon
Peruke
Pessary
Petrol
Petroleum
Pewter
pH
Phencyclidine
Phenic Acid
Phenol
Phenyl benzene
Phenylacrylic Acid
Phocine
Phon
Phosphate
Phosphorus
Phot
Photon
Photosynthesis
Phototropic
Phrenology
Piano
Pica
Picador
Picaroon
Piccolo
Picul
Piezo
Pilau
Pinchbeck
Pinene
Pint
Pistil
Pistillate
Pitch
Piton
Pitpan
Plane table
Planet
Planimeter
Plant
Plantation
Plaster of Paris
Plastic
Plateau
Platinum
Pleistocene
Plimsoll
Pliocene
Plough
Plutonium
Pneumonia
Pogo
Polio
Polka
Polonium
Polydactylism
Polyester
Polyethylene
Polymer
Polypus
Polysaccharide
Pood
Poor laws
Positron
Potassium
Potassium Acid Sulphate
Potassium Bisulphate
Potassium Bromate
Potassium Bromide
Potassium Carbonate
Potassium nitrate
Potassium Oxalate
Potassium sodium tartrate
Potassium Thiocyanide
Potential Energy
Poundage
Poundal
Praseodymium
Prazosin Hydrochloride
Pre-Cambrian
Presto
Profane Oaths Act
PROLOG
Promethium
Propaganda
Propane
Propane
Propranolol
Propylaea
Protactinium
Protein
Protium
Proton
Prussic Acid
Psychoanalysis
Psychology
Pub
Pump
Pumpernickel
Punch
Puree
Purgative
Purple
Pus
Pustulant
Pyramids
Pyrogallic Acid
Pyrogallol
Pyrometer
Pyrophone
Pyrrhic Dance
Pythian Games
Pyx
Pyxidium
An octroi is a station at the entrance of a town or department for the collection of local dues and tariffs within a country.
An ode is a short poem, frequently of irregular or complicated lyrical form, usually written for some special occasion. The term was originally applied to the choric songs of the Greek dramas, and also to the poems of Pindar, Sappho, Horace etc.
The ohm is the SI unit of electrical resistance. It was originally defined with reference to the resistance of a column of mercury, but is now taken as the resistance between two points when a potential difference of one volt between them produces a current of one ampere.
Ohm's law is that the steady current in a metal circuit is directly proportional to the constant total electromotiveforce in the circuit, that is e/i = r
Oil is a large group of viscid liquids which have a characteristic smooth and sticky feel, are lighter than water, are inflammable and chemically neutral.
Old Maid is a card game for any number of players. A full deck of 52 cards is used from which the Queen of Hearts has been removed and the remainder dealt. Pairs are discarded and remaining cards are passed face down to the player to the left who picks one at random. Play continues until all cards have been played and one player is left holding the odd Queen (the Old Maid).
Olefines are unsaturated hydrocarbons of the aliphatic series. They resemble the parrafins but chemically they are more reactive. Methylene is an example of a very reactive olefine.
Oleic acid is a colourless, odourless liquid unsaturated acid with the formulae C18H34O2. It is obtained from animal tallow and natural vegetable oils in which it occurs as the glycerol ester. It is chiefly used in the manufacture of soap, commercial oleates and cosmetics.
Oligarchy is government by a limited number of persons, as distinct from democracy (government by all classes) and monarchy (government by one person).
The Oligocene was the fifteenth geological period, 42,000,000 years ago.
An olpe is a Greek oil-flask or small jug for storing oil.
The Olympic Games originated at Olympia, in Elis, Peloponnesus and were said to have been originated by Hercules in honour of the Olympian Zeus, and to have been revived by Iphitus in 776 BC. Thereafter they were held every 4 years without a break until 393. Today the Olympic Games are still held every 4 years and are a general sporting contest held between supposedly amateur athletes of all countries. In recent years the amateur status of many athletes from larger and more industrial countries has become very dubious casting a shadow over the spirit of the games.
Omber was a popular card game played in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was played by three persons and with 40 cards.
Omega is the 24th and last letter of the Greek alphabet.
In physics, an omega-minus particle is a baryon with strangeness -3, isotopic spin 0, and negative charge.
An omelette is a dish of eggs beaten until frothy and cooked until set in a frying pan. Often other ingredients, such as mushrooms or cheese are added.
Omnibus (latin for ''for all'') is the old term for a bus (public passenger carrying vehicle). The first modern bus to make regular journeys was first introduced in Paris in 1828 and introduced to London by Shillibeer in 1829 when one carrying 22 passengers ran from Paddington to the Bank.
Oncology is the branch of medicine dealing with tumours and cancer including the origin, development, diagnosis and treatment of malignant neoplasms.
An ondograph is an instrument for graphically recording oscillatory variations, as in alternating current.
Oneg Shabbat is a Jewish celebration in honour of the Sabbath that takes place on Friday evening or Saturday afternoon and usually includes a programme of songs, a lecture and refreshments.
Opera is a stage entertainment consisting of a play sung to music in its entirety, with no spoken dialogue at all. Opera originated in Italy around 1600 and has subsequently spread throughout the world.
The ophicleide was a brass musical instrument, now replaced by the brass tuba.
Opium is a drug extracted from the seeds of the opium poppy.
The optophone is an instrument invented by Fournier d'Albe, by means of which the letters of ordinary print are caused to produce characteristic musical sounds by being projected optically on to a screen composed of a number of selnium cells connected to an AC electrical source of audio frequency, and to a loud speaker.
The Order of the Garter is a dignitary awarded for chivalry. It was implemented in 1349.
The Ordovician period was the fourth geological period, 375,000,000 years ago.
In chemistry, the term organic refers to substances which occur naturally as constituents of organised bodies.
Organic chemistry is the chemistry of the compounds of carbon.
Origami is the art of paper folding.
Ormolu is an alloy of brass used in making candlesticks, small statues and other articles. The composition is generally 58 per cent copper, 26 per cent zinc and 16 per cent tin.
Ornithology is the scientific study of birds.
Orris root is the powdered root of Iris florentina, the common white flowered iris. It was used in making perfume before the advent of synthetic scents.
An orthicon is a form of television camera tube in which the optical image to be transmitted is projected on a photo-sensitive mosaic on the far side of a transparent signal plate, a charge pattern thus being produced on the mosaic.
Ortho-Toluidine is a form of toluidine used in the manufacture of rosaniline.
Osmiridium (iridosmine) is a naturally occuring alloy of osmium and iridium.
Osmium is a blue-white metal element with the symbol Os. It is volatile and very poisonous.
The ounce is a unit of measurement of the avoirdupois scale equivalent to 16 drams or 28.350 grams.
In clock and watch making an overcoil is a fixed end of a spiral hairspring, consisting of an upwardly and inwardly bent continuation of the outermost coil of the spring and used to offset the asymmetry of the common spiral spring when tight, which impairs isochronism.
Oxalic acid is a poison found in rhubarb.
Oxidation is the chemical combination of atoms with oxygen atoms to form oxides. In metals, the process appears as rust, iron rust being iron oxide, a molecule formed of iron atoms combined with oxygen atoms.
The term oxidise refers to the chemical reaction of oxidation.
Oxygen is a gaseous element with the symbol O that is partly soluble in water. It is the only gas able to sustain respiration.
Oxytocin is a hormone that stimulates the uterus in late pregnancy to initiate and sustain labour.
Ozone is a blue gas. The molecules are comprised of three oxygen atoms.
The P band is the frequency band from 225 to 390 mhz employed in radar.
A pacemaker is an electronic device that stimulates the heart muscles by delivery small electric shocks to it.
In the sense of communications, a packet is a structured group of binary digits in a prearranged sequence containing synchronism, address, control an error-checking data. Specialised synonym for a ''block'' of data in CCITT Packet Data Network standards.
A Packet Switched Network is a network dedicated to the routing and delivery of data put in the form of standardised ''packets.''
Packet Switching is the technique in which a stream of data is broken into standardised units called ''packets,'' each of which contains address, sequence, control, size and error checking information in addition to the user data. Specialised packet switches operate on this added information to move the packets to their destination in the proper sequence and again present them in a contiguous stream.
Pahari is a language with a number of different dialects spoken from the Punjab to Nepal along the southern spurs of the Himalayas.
The Palaeocene was the thirteenth geological period, 80,000,000 years ago.
Palaeography is the study of ancient manuscripts written on papyrus, parchment or similar material, as distinct from epigraphy which is the study of ancient inscriptions incised on hard materials such as wood, stone or metal.
Palaeontology is a branch of biology and geology which deals with fossils. It is divided into palaeozoology and palaeobotany, which respectively have animals and plants as their subject matters.
Pali is an old language related to Sanskrit, in which the Buddhist classical literature was written.
A palindrome is a word, phrase or sentance the letters of which read the same left to right as right to left, such as ''was it a cat I saw''.
Palladium is a rare grey-white metal element with the symbol Pd. It has the power of absorbing a very large amount of hydrogen to which it is permeable when heated. It is used in an alloy with gold in dentistry and jewellery. In its pure form it is used for making watch springs and mirrors.
Palm kernel oil is a fatty oil obtained from the kernels of the palm fruit and used in the manufacture of soap and margarine.
Palm oil is a fatty oil obtained from the pericarp of the palm fruit and used in the manufacture of soap and edible fat.
Palmitic acid is a widely distributed naturally occuring fatty acid with the formula C16H32O2.
The pampas are natural grasslands of South America.
A pancratium is an athletic contest in wrestling and boxing.
Pantothenic acid is a hydroxy acid found in plant and animal tissues that is one of the vitamin B complex of substances and is used for cell growth.
A pantoum is a Malay verse consisting of an indefinite number of quatrains with the second and fourth lines of each quatrain repeated as the first and third lines of the following one.
Para-cresol is a cresol found in bad eggs.
Paracetamol is an analgesic. Over doses of paracetamol can cause liver damage.
Paradichlorobenzene is a white crystalline, volatile substance which is insoluble in water of the benzene series. It has a penetrating odour and is used chiefly as a moth repellent.
Paraffin is a family of hydrocarbons.
The term parallax describes the apparent movement of an object when viewed from two different positions.
Parallel Transmission is the simultaneous transmission of all parts of a signal at one time; in data transmission, requiring a separate signal path for each of the bits of a character; internal to computers, this is called a ''parallel bus.''
Parchment is a type of fine writing paper traditionally made from sheep or goat skin.
In communications systems and computers, parity is a constant state of equality; one of the oldest and simplest methods of error checking data transmission. Characters are forced into parity (total number of marking bits odd or even as selected by choice) by adding a one or zero bit as appropriate when transmitted; parity is then checked as odd or even at the receiver.
A Parity Bit is a check bit appended to an array of binary digits to make the sum of all the digits always odd or always even.
Parity Check is a checking method that determines if the sum of all the digits in an array is odd or even.
A parsec is an astronomical unit of distance equivalent to 3.2616 light years.
Pasteurisation is a preservative heat treatment applied to foods, notably milk.
Patten is another name for a clog.
Pcp is an abbreviation for phencyclidine.
PDS is an abbreviation for Portable Diagnostic System. It is an expert system which diagnoses faults in machinery from information received from sensors connected to the machinery. Sensor readings are compared with known data about component malfunction symptoms to diagnose faults.
Peat is a fibrous organic compound found in bogs that is formed by the partial decomposition of plants.
The peck is a unit of capacity measurement equivalent to 2 gallons or 9.092 litres.
Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate is an anti-anginal drug used to reduce the frequency and severity of angina attacks.
A pentagon is a five sided regular polygon.
The pentathlon is a five sport competition.
A pentode is an electronic amplifying valve with 5 main electrodes.
A pentose is a sugar with 5 carbon atoms in the molecule.
A penumbra is a partly shaded region around the shadow of an opaque body. The term is especially applied to describe the partly shaded region around a total eclipse of the sun or moon.
Perception is the ability to observe and understand, particularly intuitively.
A percolator is a device for making coffee by allowing water to filter repeatedly through ground coffee.
The pericarp is the wall of the ripened ovary of a plant.
Perigee is an astronomical term referring to the position in the Moon's orbit nearest to the earth, opposite to Apogee.
A perigynous plant is one which has stamens situated around the pistil or ovary.
A Perikon Detector was a form of crystal detector employed in the early days of radio broadcasting. It consisted of a crystal of zincite and a crystal of bornite so mounted that there was a point contact between them.
Permafrost is the permanently frozen subsoil in Arctic regions.
Permaid is an expert system, developed at Honeywell for trouble shooting large disk drives.
Permalloy is a nickel steel alloy, containing about 78 percent nickel. It is characterised by a very high permeability in low magnetic fields. It is extensively used in submarine cables.
A permanganate is any salt of permanganic acid.
The Permian was the eighth geological period, 205,000,000 years ago. It marked the evolution of the reptiles.
The persimmon is a yellow-orange plum-like astringent fruit. It becomes sweet when softened by frost.
A peruke was a man's wig of the 17th and 18th centuries. It was usually powdered and gathered at the back of the neck with a ribbon.
A pessary is a vaginal suppository.
Petrol is a volatile, flammable liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, obtained from petroleum and used as a fuel for internal-combustion engines.
Petroleum is an oily, thick, flammable, usually dark coloured liquid that is a form of bitumen or a mixture of various hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in various parts of the world and often separated by distillation into petrol, naphtha, benzene, kerosene and paraffin.
Pewter is an alloy of tin and lead.
pH is a mesurement of acidity or alkalinity in terms of hydrogen ion content.
Phencyclidine is an illegal drug also known as angel dust.
see "Carbolic Acid"
Phenol is a compound derived from coal-tar and used in the manufacture of nylon.
Phenyl benzene is a colourless crystalline organic compound. It can be made by passing benzene through a red-hot tube, when condensation takes place with the formation of phenyl benzene. It also occurs in coal-tar, and it is used in organic syntheses.
see "Cinnamic Acid"
Phocine is a zoological term pertaining to seals.
The phon is the unit of loudness.
A phosphate is any salt of phosphorus oxy acids.
Phosphorus is a non-metallic element with the symbol P.
A phot is a unit of luminous flux equal to the illumination produced by one lumen on a surface of one square centimetre.
A photon is a light quantum, that is a definite amount of radiation having a frequency within the visible spectrum. A photon is emitted from an excited atom when one of the orbital electrons, having been transferred to an orbit of higher energy level, suddenly returns to its former orbit.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates by chlorophyll under the influence of light.
Something which is phototropic seeks light. The term is used in Biology to describe animalcules which seek the light.
Phrenology (craniology) is the study of the external form of the human skull, as indicative of mental powers and moral qualities. It was propounded by Gall, a German physician around 1796.
The piano is a musical instrument with a keyboard. It was invented in the 18th century as a development of the harpsichord. Strings are stuck by hammers when the keys are depressed.
Pica is a size of print (12 point) giving about 6 lines to the inch.
A picador is a horse-mounted, lance armed bull fighter.
A picaroon was a name for pirate or pirate ship.
The piccolo is a woodwind instrument of the flute family.
The picul was a Chinese unit of weight equivalent to 133.5 lbs.
Piezo is a prefix signifying pressure.
Pilau is an oriental dish of rice with meat or fish and spices.
Pinchbeck is an alloy of 80 percent copper and 20 percent zinc once used for making cheap watch cases, and more recently as a substitute for the more expensive bronze. It was invented by a London watchmaker in the 18th century.
Pinene is a terpene colourless liquid which smells like turpentine and occurs in pine trees and the essential oils of eucalyptus, lemon and thyme.
The pint is a unit of capacity measurement equivalent to 4 gills or 0.568 litres.
A pistil is a an ovule-bearing or seed-bearing female organ of a flower, consisting of the ovary, style and stigma.
Pistillate is a botanical term for flowers with have a pistil or pistils but no stamen.
Pitch is the highness or lowness of a musical sound.
A piton is a metal spike used in mountaineering as a support for a belaying pin.
A pitpan is a Central American dug-out boat.
A plane table is a device used in surveying and consisting of a movable telescope resting upon a flat board mounted on a tripod. By its use a reliable plan may be prepared in the field directly upon a sheet of paper pinned to the board.
A planet is a heavenly body which orbits a star.
A Planimeter is a simple integrating instrument for measuring the area of a regular or irregular plane surface. It consists of two hinged arms: one is kept fixed and the other is traced around the boundary of the area. This actuates a small graduated wheel; the area is calculated from the wheel's change in position.
A plant is a living organism of the vegetable kingdom. Generally they are capable of living wholly on inorganic substances. They lack locomotion and special organs of sensation and digestion.
A plantation is a an assemblage of planted and growing plants.
Plaster of paris is calcium sulphate mixed with water to make casts.
Plastic is a group of synthetic polymers made from oils and which are capable of being moulded into shape by heat or pressure or both.
A plateau is an elevated plain whose edges slope somewhat abruptly to a lower level.
Platinum is a rare metal more valuable than gold with the symbol Pt and a relative hardness of 5. It has a high melting point and is resistant to chemicals.
The Pleistocene (ice age) was the seventeenth geological period, 500,000 years ago. It marked the evolution of tool-making man.
A plimsoll is a shoe with a canvas upper vulcanised to a rubber sole. They were invented for wear on board ship.
The Pliocene was the sixteenth geological period, 8,000,000 years ago. It marked the modern formation of the continents.
A plough is an agricultural implement used for tilling the soil.
Plutonium is an artificial radioactive metal element with the sumbol Pu.
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung due to infection.
The pogo was a punk dance of the late 1970's and early 1980's which involved jumping into the air whilst keeping the arms straight at the sides of the body, the body stiff and tense and the legs straight and the head cocked to one side. The body was propelled upwards by flexing the feet.
Polio is a virus infection of the central nervous system affecting nerves that activate muscles.
The polka is a lively Bohemian folk dance.
Polonium is a metal radioactive element with the symbol Po.
Polydactylism is the medical condition of a person having more than five fingers on each hand.
Polyester is a thermosetting plastic used in the manufacture of synthetic fabrics.
Polyethylene is a thermosetting plastic polymer of ethylene.
A polymer is a compound made up of large molecules composed of many repeated simple units.
Polypus is a small benign tumour of the skin due to local overgrowth of the cells.
A polysaccharide is a long chain of carbohydrate made up of hundreds of linked simple sugars, such as glucose.
The pood was a Russian unit of weight equal to 36.112 lbs.
The poor laws were an act of parliament between 1562 and 1601 which gave local authorities the responsibility for settling and supporting the poor in England.
A positron is a positively-charged particle of the same mass as the electron and with a charge equivalent but opposite in sign to that of the electron.
Potassium is a metal element with the symbol K.
see "Potassium Bisulphate"
Potassium bisulphate (potassium acid sulphate) is a colourless, crystalline water-soluble substance used chiefly in the conversion of tartrates to bitartrates.
Potassium bromate is a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder used chiefly as an oxidising agent and as an analytical reagent.
Potassium bromide (bromide) is a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder. It has a bitter, saline taste and is used in the manufacture of photographic papers and plates and as a sedative.
Potassium carbonate is a white, granular, water-soluble substance used chiefly in the manufacture of soap, glass and potassium salts.
Potassium nitrate is a white bitter tasting substance used in gunpowder, as an oxidising agent, for pickling meat and in medicine.
Potassium oxalate is a colourless, crystalline water-soluble substance. It is toxic, and is used as a bleaching agent and in medical tests as an anticoagulant.
see "Cream of Tartar"
Potassium Thiocyanide is a sulphocyanate. It is colourless, easily dissolvable crystals used in dyeing.
Potential energy is energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position.
Poundage was a duty on all imports and exports imposed in 1302 and abolished in 1787.
The poundal is the imperial unit of force, now replaced in the SI system by the newton. One poundal equals 0.1383 newtons. It is defined as the force necessary to accelerate a mass of one pound by one foot per second per second.
Praseodymium is a metal element with the symbol Pr used as a pigment in glass.
Prazosin hydrochloride is a drug used to treat mild to moderate high blood pressure. It has the possible side effects of: dizziness, headache, drowsiness, weakness, depression, palpitations, blurred vision, dry mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, constipation and nausea.
The Pre-Cambrian period was the second geological period. It was the time when the first animal life appeared, about 1,125,000,000 years ago.
Presto is a musical term designating a faster rate of movement than that indicated by allegro.
The Profane Oaths Act of 1745 makes it a punishable offence in Britain to curse or swear blasphemously.
Prolog is a computer programming language used mainly for artificial intelligence.
Promethium is a metal element with the symbol Pm.
Propaganda was an association established in Rome in 1622 for the purpose of diffusing a knowledge of Roman Catholicism throughout the world.
Propane is a gaseous hydrocarbon found in petroleum. It has the formulae c3h8.
Propane is an alkene hydrocarbon.
Propranolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker drug used for many purposes including: reducing angina attacks, stabilizing irregular heartbeat, lowering blood pressure and reducing the frequency of migraine headaches.
Propylaea is an architectural term referring to the entrance to a Greek temple.
Protactinium is a rare actinide element with the symbol Pa.
Protein is a long chain molecule made up of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. Protein forms the structural material of bodily tissues.
Protium is an isotope of hydrogen.
A proton is a positively charged sub atomic particle.
see "Hydrocyanic Acid"
Psychoanalysis is a theory and treatment method for neuroses developed by Freud.
Psychology was originally thought of as a department of philosophy which dealt with the mind. Today, it is recognised as the science of the nature, function and phenomena of the human mind and human behaviour.
A pub is a house licensed for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
A pump is a machine for moving fluid from one place to another.
Pumpernickel is a German wholemeal rye bread. It is dark brown and often sweetened and spiced.
A punch is a machine for making or starting holes.
A puree is a type of soup made from meat, fish, game or vegetables which have been rubbed through a sieve and flavourings, liquid fat and a thickening agent have been added.
A purgative is a substance which causes evacuation by the bowels.
Purple is a secondary colour compounded by the union of the primaries blue and red. As a dye it was originally obtained from Tyrian dye.
Pus is a yellowish liquid that forms in the body as a result of bacterial infection.
A pustulant is a counter-irritant such as croton oil.
In billiards, pyramids is a game played with 15 red balls and 1 white ball. The red balls are placed together in the shape of a triangle, or pyramid at the spot. The object of the game being to pot the most balls. This game was popular around 1900, and may perhaps have developed into the modern game of Pool.
Pyrogallic Acid (pyrogallol) is an acid obtained by the dry distillation of gallic acid. It forms colourless, odourless crystals, is readily soluble in water, alcohol and ether and its alkaline solution readily absorbs oxygen. It is used as a developer in photography.
see "Pyrogallic Acid"
A pyrometer is a device for measuring temperatures outside of the range of a mercurial thermometer.
A pyrophone is a musical instrument, in which the various notes are produced by the burning of hydrogen gas within glass tubes of varying lengths and sizes.
The Pyrrhic Dance was an ancient Greek dance which consisted of moves representing an attempt to avoid the strokes of an enemy in battle. It was viewed as a kind of training for war.
The Pythian Games were a Greek athletic contest originally limited to musical competitions, and instituted in 527 BC in honour of Pythian Apollo and held every 4 years at Delphi. The prize was a wreath of laurel.
A pyx was a covered vessel used in the Roman Catholic church to contain the consecrated host. In ancient times it was sometimes made in the shape of a dove.
In botany, a pyxidium is a capsule with a lid, as seen in the henbane and in the fruit of the monkey-pot tree.