n. [ OE. pere, OF. piere a stone, F. pierre, fr. L. petra, Gr. &unr_;. Cf. Petrify. ]
Abutment pier,
Pier glass,
Pier table,
n. Same as Wharfage. Smart. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. To enter; to penetrate; to make a way into or through something, as a pointed instrument does; -- used literally and figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ]
And pierced to the skin, but bit no more. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
She would not pierce further into his meaning. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
Can no prayers pierce thee? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. That may be pierced. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Penetrated; entered; perforated. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. F. perce. ] A kind of gimlet for making vents in casks; -- called also
n.
a. Forcibly entering, or adapted to enter, at or by a point; perforating; penetrating; keen; -- used also figuratively;
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a. [ L. Pierius, from Mount
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]