Persian
    adj 1: of or relating to Iran or its people or language or
           culture; "Iranian mountains"; "Iranian security police"
           [syn: Iranian, Persian]
    n 1: a native or inhabitant of Iran; "the majority of Irani are
         Persian Shiite Muslims" [syn: Irani, Iranian,
         Persian]
    2: the language of Persia (Iran) in any of its ancient forms
       [syn: Persian, Farsi]

Persian \Per"sian\, n.
   1. A native or inhabitant of Persia.
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   2. The language spoken in Persia. Ancient Persian of the 3rd
      to 10th centuries is also called Pahlavi, and modern
      Persian is also called Farsi.
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   3. A thin silk fabric, used formerly for linings. --Beck.
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   4. pl. (Arch.) See Persian columns, under Persian, a.
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Persian \Per"sian\, a. [From Persia: cf. It. Persiano. Cf.
   Parsee, Peach, Persic.]
   Of or pertaining to Persia, to the Persians, or to their
   language.
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   Persian berry, the fruit of Rhamnus infectorius, a kind
      of buckthorn, used for dyeing yellow, and imported chiefly
      from Trebizond.

   Persian cat. (Zool.) Same as Angora cat, under Angora.
      

   Persian columns (Arch.), columns of which the shaft
      represents a Persian slave; -- called also Persians. See
      Atlantes.

   Persian drill (Mech.), a drill which is turned by pushing a
      nut back and forth along a spirally grooved drill holder.
      

   Persian fire (Med.), malignant pustule.

   Persian powder. See Insect powder, under Insect.

   Persian red. See Indian red
   (a), under Indian.

   Persian wheel, a noria; a tympanum. See Noria.
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