PORT, gate; print of a deer's foot PORT, transport PORTAGUE, Portuguese gold coin, worth over £3 or f4 PORTCULLIS, "-- of coin," some old coins have a portcullis stamped on their reverse (Whalley) PORTENT, marvel, prodigy; sinister omen PORTENTOUS, prophesying evil, threatening PORTER, references appear "to allude to Parsons, the king's porter, who was... near seven feet high" (Whalley) POSSESS, inform, acquaint POST AND PAIR, a game at cards POSY, motto. (See Poesie) POTCH, poach POULT-FOOT, club-foot POUNCE, claw, talon PRACTICE, intrigue, concerted plot PRACTISE, plot, conspire PRAGMATIC, an expert, agent PRAGMATIC, officious, conceited, meddling PRECEDENT, record of proceedings PRECEPT, warrant, summons PRECISIAN(ISM), Puritan(ism), preciseness PREFER, recomment PRESENCE, presence chamber PRESENT(LY), immediate(ly), without delay; at the present time; actually PRESS, force into service PREST, ready PRETEND, assert, allege PREVENT, anticipate PRICE, worth, excellence PRICK, point, dot used in the writing of Hebrew and other languages PRICK, prick out, mark off, select; trace, track; "-- away," make off with speed PRIMERO, game of cards PRINCOX, pert boy PRINT, "in --," to the letter, exactly PRISTINATE, former PRIVATE, private interests PRIVATE, privy, intimate PROCLIVE, prone to PRODIGIOUS, monstrous, unnatural PRODIGY, monster PRODUCED, prolonged PROFESS, pretend PROJECTION, the throwing of the "powder of projection" into the crucible to turn the melted metal into gold or silver PROLATE, pronounce drawlingly PROPER, of good appearance, handsome; own, particular PROPERTIES, state necessaries PROPERTY, duty; tool PRORUMPED, burst out PROTEST, vow, proclaim (an affected word of that time); formally declare non-payment, etc., of bill of exchange; fig. failure of personal credit, etc. PROVANT, soldier's allowance -- hence, of common make PROVIDE, foresee PROVIDENCE, foresight, prudence PUBLICATION, making a thing public of common property (N.E.D.) PUCKFIST, puff-ball; insipid, insignificant, boasting fellow PUFF-WING, shoulder puff PUISNE, judge of inferior rank, a junior PULCHRITUDE, beauty PUMP, shoe PUNGENT, piercing PUNTO, point, hit PURCEPT, precept, warrant PURE, fine, capital, excellent PURELY, perfectly, utterly PURL, pleat or fold of a ruff PURSE-NET, net of which the mouth is drawn together with a string PURSUIVANT, state messenger who summoned the persecuted seminaries; warrant officer PURSY, PURSINESS, shortwinded(ness) PUT, make a push, exert yourself (N.E.D.) PUT OFF, excuse, shift PUT ON, incite, encourage; proceed with, take in hand, try