| pelvic girdle |
in a vertebrate, the skeletal structure of bone, cartilage, or both to which the hind legs, fins, or the like are attached; pelvic arch. |
| pelvis |
in many vertebrates, the basinlike structure formed by the hipbones and other bones that form a ring near the base of the spinal column. [2 definitions] |
| pemmican |
a North American Indian dried food made of pounded shreds of meat, melted fat, and often berries, formed into a cake. |
| pen1 |
any of various instruments used for writing or drawing in ink. [4 definitions] |
| pen2 |
a small, usu. fenced enclosure for animals. [3 definitions] |
| pen. |
abbreviation of "peninsula," an area of land surrounded on nearly all sides by water, and connected to a mainland by a usu. narrow strip of land. |
| penal |
of, concerning, or giving out punishment, esp. according to law. [2 definitions] |
| penal code |
the body of laws of a country that relates to various crimes and offenses and their penalties. |
| penalize |
to inflict a penalty on (a person or group). [3 definitions] |
| penalty |
a punishment inflicted or incurred for breaking a law or rule or for violating an agreement. [4 definitions] |
| penalty box |
an enclosure to the side of a hockey rink where penalized players must stay. |
| penalty kick |
in soccer, a free kick from a point 12 feet in front of the goal and with only the goalie defending, awarded to one team to penalize a violation by the other team. [2 definitions] |
| penalty shot |
in ice hockey, a free shot at the goal taken by a player from the four meter line after skating in from the center spot, usu. awarded when the opposing team has illegally prevented a goal. |
| penance |
an act of punishment or self-discipline voluntarily undergone to show regret at having done something wrong. [2 definitions] |
| penates |
in the religion of ancient Rome, gods or spirits, as of ancestors, that watched over a household. |
| pence |
plural form of "penny" used when referring to an amount of British currency rather than number of penny coins. One hundred pence is equal to one pound. |
| penchant |
a strong liking for or inclination towards something. |
| pencil |
an implement for writing, drawing, or marking that consists of a slender core of graphite, carbon, crayon, or the like, usu. enclosed in or held by a cylinder of wood, plastic, or metal. [4 definitions] |
| pencil pusher |
(informal) one who does routine office work involving writing, record-keeping, and the like. |
| pencil sharpener |
a small device used for making pencils sharp. A pencil sharpener has a hole in one area where a pencil is to be inserted and where it comes into contact with a blade. |
| pend |
to await judgment or decision. [2 definitions] |