pell

v. t. [ Cf. Pelt, v. t. ] To pelt; to knock about. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Gael. Peileag. ] (Zool.) A porpoise. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 2d Pell. ] A customs duty on skins of leather. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. pelle skin + agro rough. ] (Med.) An affection of the skin, characterized by redness, especially in exposed areas, scaling and shedding of the skin, and accompanied with severe gastrointestinal disturbance and nervous symptoms. It is due to a deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3; nicotinic acid) and protein in the diet, and may be caused by malnutrition, or, in some cases, by a heavy dependence on maize for food. It was at one time (ca. 1890) endemic in Northern Italy, and was called Alpine scurvy. It may also be caused by alcoholism or diease causing an impairment of nutrition. It is also called St. Ignatius's itch, maidism, mal de la rosa, mal rosso, and psychoneurosis maidica. A variety of pellagra seen in children is called infantile pellagra or kwashiorkor. [ Stedman ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. One who is afficted with pellagra. Chambers's Encyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ It. pellagroso: cf. F. pellagreux. ] (Med.) Pertaining to, or affected with, or attendant on, pellagra; as, pellagrous insanity. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. pelote, LL. pelota, pilota, fr. L. pila a ball. Cf. Platoon. ] 1. A little ball; as, a pellet of wax on paper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A bullet; a ball for firearms. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

As swift as a pellet out of a gun. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pellet gun a gun that fires small pellets, less than 3 mm diameter, usually made of metal. --
Pellet molding (Arch.), a narrow band ornamented with smalt, flat disks. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. To form into small balls; to pelletize. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]