n. [ AS. pi&unr_;a; akin to D. pit pith, kernel, LG. peddik. Cf. Pit a kernel. ] 1. (Bot.) The soft spongy substance in the center of the stems of many plants and trees, especially those of the dicotyledonous or exogenous classes. It consists of cellular tissue. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (a) (Zool.) The spongy interior substance of a feather. (b) (Anat.) The spinal cord; the marrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence: The which contains the strength of life; the vital or essential part; concentrated force; vigor; strength; importance; as, the speech lacked pith. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enterprises of great pith and moment. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pith paper. Same as Rice paper, under Rice. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Physiol.) To destroy the central nervous system of (an animal, as a frog), as by passing a stout wire or needle up and down the vertebral canal. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. [ NL.; Gr. pi`qhkos ape + 'a`nqrwpos man. ] 1. A hypothetical genus of primates intermediate between man and the anthropoid apes. Haeckel. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A genus consisting of an extinct primate (Pithecanthropus erectus) apparently intermediate between man and the existing anthropoid apes, known from bones first found in Java (hence called Java man) in 1891-92, and other bones found later. The species was renamed Homo erectus around 1960. The Javan bones are believed to be from 1.6 to 1.9 million years old, and include a thigh bone of the human type, two molar teeth intermediate between those of man and the anthropoids, and the calvaria of the skull, indicating a brain capacity of about 900 cubic centimeters, and resembling in form that of the Neanderthal man. Additional specimens of what are considerd as variants of the species have been found in China, Africa, and Europe. Homo erectus is currently believed to have evolved in Africa from Homo habilis, the first member of the genus Homo. Anatomically and physiologically, Homo erectus resembles contemporary humans except for having a stouter bone structure. Also [ pl. -thropi , an animal of this genus. -- Pith`e*can"thrope n. -- Pith`e*can"thro*poid a. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. pi`qhkos an ape. ] (Zool.) A division of mammals including the apes and monkeys. Sometimes used in the sense of Primates. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; an ape + -oid. ] (Zool.) 1. Of or pertaining to the genus Pithecia, or subfamily Pithecinæ, which includes the saki, ouakari, and other allied South American monkeys. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to the anthropoid apes in particular, or to the higher apes of the Old World, collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of pith. [ R. ] W. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a pithy manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being pithy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of pith, or of strength; feeble. Dryden. “Pithless argumentation.” Glandstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pithy; robust. [ R. ] “Pithsome health and vigor.” R. D. Blackmore. [ 1913 Webster ]