Pe·ter prop. n. A common baptismal name for a man.  The name of one of the twelve apostles of Christ.
 Peter boat, a fishing boat, sharp at both ends, originally of the Baltic Sea, but now common in certain English rivers.
 Peter Funk, the auctioneer in a mock auction. [Cant, U.S.]
 Peter pence, or Peter's pence. (a) An annual tax or tribute, formerly paid by the English people to the pope, being a penny for every house, payable on Lammas or St. Peter's day; -- called also Rome scot, and hearth money. (b) In modern times, a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics to the private purse of the pope.
 Peter's fish Zool., a haddock; -- so called because the black spots, one on each side, behind the gills, are traditionally said to have been caused by the fingers of St. Peter, when he caught the fish to pay the tribute.  The name is applied, also, to other fishes having similar spots.


 Hearth n.
 1. The pavement or floor of brick, stone, or metal in a chimney, on which a fire is made; the floor of a fireplace; also, a corresponding part of a stove.
    There was a fire on the hearth burning before him.   --Jer. xxxvi. 22.
 Where fires thou find'st unraked and hearths unswept.
 There pinch the maids as blue as bilberry.   --Shak.
 2. The house itself, as the abode of comfort to its inmates and of hospitality to strangers; fireside.
    Household talk and phrases of the hearth.    --Tennyson.
 3. Metal. & Manuf. The floor of a furnace, on which the material to be heated lies, or the lowest part of a melting furnace, into which the melted material settles; as, an open-hearth smelting furnace.
 Hearth ends Metal., fragments of lead ore ejected from the furnace by the blast.
 Hearth money, Hearth penny [AS. heorðpening], a tax formerly laid in England on hearths, each hearth (in all houses paying the church and poor rates) being taxed at two shillings; -- called also chimney money, etc.
    He had been importuned by the common people to relieve them from the . . . burden of the hearth money.   --Macaulay.

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 hearth money
      n : an annual contribution made by Roman Catholics to support
          the Papal see [syn: Peter's pence]