释义 |
picktooth, n. and a. Now rare.|ˈpɪktuːθ| Pl. picktooths; sometimes erron. pickteeth. [f. pick v.1 2 + tooth: see pick-.] A. n. 1. An instrument for picking the teeth; a toothpick.
1542Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. in Pitcairn Crim. Trials I. *321 For ane Pennare of silver to keip Pyke-teithe in, to þe Kingis grace. 1572Gascoigne Wks., Hearbes, Weedes, etc. (1587) 154 As with a piketooth byting on your lippe. 1594Plat Jewell-ho. iii. 73 Small Iuniper stickes, with sharpe points like picketoothes. 1685Lloyd in Lett. Eminent Persons (1813) I. 29 Now he gave him his case of pick⁓teeth. 1755H. Walpole Let. to Montagu 20 Dec., I was afraid you would think I had sent you a bundle of pick⁓tooths, insted of pines and firs. 1812W. Tennant Anster F. vi. xxxii, Guest and hostess backward leaning, all Their picktooths now were plying. 2. The umbelliferous plant Ammi Visnaga, also called Toothpick Bishopweed; so called from the use made of the dry stalks of the umbels.
1760J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 322 Pick-tooth, Daucus. 1866Treas. Bot., Picktooth, Ammi Visnaga. 1884Miller Plant-n., Pick-tooth, Daucus Visnaga. 3. attrib., as picktooth case.
1685Lond. Gaz. No. 2068/4 A Pick-Tooth Case wrought. 1711Puckle Club (1817) 74 Accoutred with a large muff..snuff-box, diamond ring, pick-tooth-case, silk handkerchief. 1807Crabbe Par. Reg. ii. 237 His milk-white hand Could pick tooth case and box for snuff command. B. adj. Idle, indolent, easy, leisurely (like a person resting and picking his teeth after a meal).
1728Vanbr. & Cib. Prov. Husb. ii. i, My Lord and I, after..dinner, sat down by the fire-side, in an idle, indolent, pick-tooth way. 1767Mrs. S. Pennington Lett. III. 39 We breakfast..with Aristotle, and pass our pick-tooth hours with Orpheus. 1809Malkin Gil Blas iv. ix. ⁋3 The pick⁓tooth carelessness of a lounger. 1865Pall Mall G. 29 May 1 That easy, picktooth air of fashion, with which the noble Marquis is good enough to transact the business of the nation. |