officer n. Lowest commissioned rank in the raf.

- —n. - person who operates the controls of an aircraft.

- person qualified to take charge of a ship entering or leaving harbour.

- (usu. Attrib.) Experimental undertaking or test (pilot scheme).

- guide. —v. (-t-) 1 act as a pilot of.

- conduct or initiate as a pilot. [greek pedon]

—v. - a squeeze tightly, esp. Between finger and thumb. B (often absol.) (of a shoe etc.) Constrict painfully.

- (of cold, hunger, etc.) Affect painfully.

- slang a steal. B arrest.

- (as pinched adj.) (of the features) drawn.

- a (usu. Foll. By in, of, for, etc.) Stint. B be niggardly.

- (usu. Foll. By out, back, down) remove (leaves, buds, etc.) To encourage bushy growth. —n. - act of pinching.

- amount that can be taken up with fingers and thumb (pinch of snuff).

- the stress caused by poverty etc. at (or in) a pinch in an emergency. [french pincer]

adj. (pl. -s) esp. Us slang socialist.

n. (pl. -ies) colloq. Pinafore. [abbreviation]

n. Colloq. Pint of milk. [corruption of pint of]

n. - photograph of a popular or sexually attractive person, hung on the wall.

- person in such a photograph.

adj. - devout; religious.

- sanctimonious.

- dutiful. piously adv. Piousness n. [latin]

n. Person who plays a pipe, esp. The bagpipes.

n. Small bird resembling a lark. [imitative]

—v. (piques, piqued, piquing) 1 wound the pride of, irritate.

- arouse (curiosity, interest, etc.). —n. Resentment; hurt pride. [french: related to *piquant]