Pea \Pea\ (p[=e]), n. [OF. peis. See {Poise}.]
   The sliding weight on a steelyard. [Written also {pee}.]
   
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Pea \Pea\, n. (Naut.)
   See {Peak}, n., 3.
   
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Pea \Pea\, n.; pl. {Peas} (p[=e]z) or {Pease} (p[=e]z). [OE.
   pese, fr. AS. pisa, or OF. peis, F. pois; both fr. L. pisum;
   cf. Gr. pi`sos, pi`son. The final s was misunderstood in
   English as a plural ending. Cf. {Pease}.]
   1. (Bot.) A plant, and its fruit, of the genus {Pisum}, of
      many varieties, much cultivated for food. It has a
      papilionaceous flower, and the pericarp is a legume,
      popularly called a pod.
      
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   Note: When a definite number, more than one, is spoken of,
         the plural form peas is used; as, the pod contained
         nine peas; but, in a collective sense, the form pease
         is preferred; as, a bushel of pease; they had pease at
         dinner. This distinction is not always preserved, the
         form peas being used in both senses.
         
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   2. A name given, especially in the Southern States, to the
      seed of several leguminous plants (species of {Dolichos},
      {Cicer}, {Abrus}, etc.) esp. those having a scar (hilum)
      of a different color from the rest of the seed.
      
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   Note: The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or
         less closely related to the common pea. See the
         Phrases, below.
         
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   {Beach pea} (Bot.), a seashore plant, {Lathyrus maritimus}.
      

   {Black-eyed pea}, a West Indian name for {Dolichos  sphaerospermus} and its seed.

   {Butterfly pea}, the American plant {Clitoria Mariana},
      having showy blossoms.

   {Chick pea}. See {Chick-pea}.

   {Egyptian pea}. Same as {Chick-pea}.

   {Everlasting pea}. See under {Everlasting}.

   {Glory pea}. See under {Glory}, n.

   {Hoary pea}, any plant of the genus {Tephrosia}; goat's rue.
      

   {Issue pea}, {Orris pea}. (Med.) See under {Issue}, and
      {Orris}.

   {Milk pea}. (Bot.) See under {Milk}.

   {Pea berry}, a kind of a coffee bean or grain which grows
      single, and is round or pea-shaped; often used
      adjectively; as, pea-berry coffee.

   {Pea bug}. (Zool.) Same as {Pea weevil}.

   {Pea coal}, a size of coal smaller than nut coal.

   {Pea crab} (Zool.), any small crab of the genus
      {Pinnotheres}, living as a commensal in bivalves; esp.,
      the European species ({Pinnotheres pisum}) which lives in
      the common mussel and the cockle.

   {Pea dove} (Zool.), the American ground dove.

   {Pea-flower tribe} (Bot.), a suborder ({Papilionaceae}) of
      leguminous plants having blossoms essentially like that of
      the pea. --G. Bentham.

   {Pea maggot} (Zool.), the larva of a European moth ({Tortrix  pisi}), which is very destructive to peas.

   {Pea ore} (Min.), argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in
      round grains of a size of a pea; pisolitic ore.

   {Pea starch}, the starch or flour of the common pea, which is
      sometimes used in adulterating wheat flour, pepper, etc.
      

   {Pea tree} (Bot.), the name of several leguminous shrubs of
      the genus {Caragana}, natives of Siberia and China.

   {Pea vine}. (Bot.)
      (a) Any plant which bears peas.
      (b) A kind of vetch or tare, common in the United States
          ({Lathyrus Americana}, and other similar species).

   {Pea weevil} (Zool.), a small weevil ({Bruchus pisi}) which
      destroys peas by eating out the interior.

   {Pigeon pea}. (Bot.) See {Pigeon pea}.

   {Sweet pea} (Bot.), the annual plant {Lathyrus odoratus};
      also, its many-colored, sweet-scented blossoms.
      
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Peak \Peak\ (p[=e]k), n. [OE. pek, AS. peac, perh of Celtic
   origin; cf. Ir. peac a sharp-pointed thing. Cf. {Pike}.]
   1. A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates
      in a point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap. "Run your
      beard into a peak." --Beau. & Fl.
      
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   2. The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or
      range, ending in a point; often, the whole hill or
      mountain, esp. when isolated; as, the Peak of Teneriffe.
      
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            Silent upon a peak in Darien.         --Keats.
      
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   3. (Naut.)
      (a) The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; --
          used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards,
          peak-brails, etc.
      (b) The narrow part of a vessel's bow, or the hold within
          it.
      (c) The extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill. [In the
          last sense written also {pea} and {pee}.]
          
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   {Fore peak}. (Naut.) See under {Fore}.
      
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