PETER • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Peter

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/pˈitər/ Listen

proper noun

Peter n. A common baptismal name for a man. The name of one of the twelve apostles of Christ.

Peter boat, a fishing boat, sharp at both ends, originally of the Baltic Sea, but now common in certain English rivers.

Peter Funk, the auctioneer in a mock auction. (Cant, U.S.)

Peter pence, or Peter's pence.

(a)

An annual tax or tribute, formerly paid by the English people to the pope, being a penny for every house, payable on Lammas or St. Peter's day; called also Rome scot, and hearth money.

(b)

In modern times, a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics to the private purse of the pope.

Peter's fish (Zool.), a haddock; so called because the black spots, one on each side, behind the gills, are traditionally said to have been caused by the fingers of St. Peter, when he caught the fish to pay the tribute. The name is applied, also, to other fishes having similar spots.

verb

Peter v. i. (past & past part. petered; pres. part. petering) To become depleted; to run out; to fail; used generally with out; as, that mine has petered out. (Slang, U.S.)

See images of 'Peter'

Etymology of 'Peter'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Peter" Quotes from Famous Books

... keynote among Western peoples of an investigation into the origin of most troubles and strifes; the watchword of the student of the springs of great popular outbursts among Eastern nations must be Cherchez les pretres. The Peter the Hermit of Afghanistan was the old Mushk-i-Alum, the fanatic Chief Moulla of Ghuznee. This aged enthusiast went to and fro among the tribes proclaiming the sacred duty of a Jehad or religious war against ...

— The Afghan Wars 1839-42 and 1878-80 • Archibald Forbes

... Peter was fishin' in de sea, And dey drop de net and follow my Lord. Don't you hear ...

— Army Life in a Black Regiment • Thomas Wentworth Higginson

... our Lord's departure, we read of the apostles continuing their labors in the light of continued revelation. By this sure guide they selected and set apart those who were to officiate in the Church. By revelation, Peter was directed to carry the gospel to the Gentiles; which expansion of the work was inaugurated by the conversion of the devout Cornelius and his household. By revelation, Saul of Tarsus became Paul the Apostle, a ...

— The Story of "Mormonism" • James E. Talmage

... comprise? At that time no man knew; but within ten years after his arrival in 1824 M'Loughlin had sent out hunting brigades, consisting of two or {117} three hundred horsemen, in all directions: east, under Alexander Ross, as far as Montana and Idaho; south, under Peter Skene Ogden, as far as Utah and Nevada and California; along the coast south as far as Monterey, under Tom Mackay, whose father had been murdered on the Tonquin and whose widowed mother had married M'Loughlin; north, ...

— Pioneers of the Pacific Coast - A Chronicle of Sea Rovers and Fur Hunters • Agnes C. Laut

... to carry the news. The way the word came to San Jose was exciting. The new governor, Peter Burnett, was in San Francisco on steamer day. On the very next morning he left for San Jose on the stage coach of Crandall, one of the famous drivers of the West. The stage of a rival line left at the same time. There ...

— History of California • Helen Elliott Bandini

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