{ n., or }. [ From native name. ] (Zool.) A polystome worm (Palolo viridis) that burrows in the coral reefs of certain of the Pacific Islands. A little before the last quarter of the moon in October and November, they swarm in vast numbers at the surface of the sea for breeding, and are gathered and highly esteemed as food by the natives. An allied species inhabits the tropical Atlantic and swarms in June or July. In the 1890 Webster, called palola and Palola viridis. A misspelling? [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Of Eastern origin; -- properly, the ball used in the game. ] 1. A game of ball of Eastern origin, resembling hockey, with the players on horseback. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A similar game played on the ice, or on a prepared floor, by players wearing skates. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A game similar to hockey played by swimmers. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Sp., an air or popular song in Andalucia. ] A Spanish gypsy dance characterized by energetic movements of the body while the feet merely shuffle or glide, with unison singing and rhythmic clapping of hands. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ F. polonais, polonaise, Polish. ] Of or pertaining to the Poles, or to Poland. [ Written also Polonese. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also Polonese and Polonoise. ] 1. The Polish language. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An article of dress for women, consisting of a body and an outer skirt in one piece. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) A stately Polish dance tune, in 3-4 measure, beginning always on the beat with a quaver followed by a crotchet, and closing on the beat after a strong accent on the second beat; also, a dance adapted to such music; a polacca. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. See Polonaise. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. So named after Poland, in L. form Polonia, one of the discoverers being a Pole. ] (Chem.) A radioactive chemical element, discovered by M. and MMe. Curie in pitchblende, and originally called radium F. It has atomic number 84 and an atomic weight of 210. It is a very rare natural element, having an abundance in uranium ores only 0.2% that of radium. It is closely related chemically to bismuth. It emits only alpha rays, and has a half-life of 138 days. It is thus more unstable than radium, and a milligram of polonium emits as many alpha particles as 5 grams of radium. Twenty-seven isotopes are known, with atomic masses from 192 to 218. At present a more practical method of preparation than isolation from ores is the preparation by neutron bombardment of bismuth in a nuclear reactor, and it may be obtained commercially by users having an appropriate permit. [ HBCF61 ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. [ Prob. corrupt. fr. Bologna. ] A kind of sausage made of meat partly cooked. [ 1913 Webster ]