n. [ F. pilute, L. pilula a pill, little ball, dim. of L. pila a ball. Cf. Piles. ] 1. A medicine in the form of a little ball, or small round mass, to be swallowed whole. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figuratively, something offensive or nauseous which must be accepted or endured. Udall. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pill beetle (Zool.), any small beetle of the genus Byrrhus, having a rounded body, with the head concealed beneath the thorax. --
Pill bug (Zool.), any terrestrial isopod of the genus Armadillo, having the habit of rolling itself into a ball when disturbed. Called also pill wood louse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Peel skin, or Pillion. ] The peel or skin. [ Obs. ] “Some be covered over with crusts, or hard pills, as the locusts.” Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. L. pilare to deprive of hair, and E. pill, n. (above). ] 1. To deprive of hair; to make bald. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To peel; to make by removing the skin. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Jacob ] pilled white streaks . . . in the rods. Gen. xxx. 37. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be peeled; to peel off in flakes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Pilled p. pr. & vb. n. Pilling. ] [ F. piller, L. pilare; cf. It. pigliare to take. Cf. Peel to plunder. ] To rob; to plunder; to pillage; to peel. See Peel, to plunder. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pillers and robbers were come in to the field to pill and to rob. Sir T. Malroy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. piller to plunder. See Pill to plunder. ] 1. The act of pillaging; robbery. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is taken from another or others by open force, particularly and chiefly from enemies in war; plunder; spoil; booty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which pillage they with merry march bring home. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Plunder; rapine; spoil; depredation. -- Pillage, Plunder. Pillage refers particularly to the act of stripping the sufferers of their goods, while plunder refers to the removal of the things thus taken; but the words are freely interchanged. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Pillaged p. pr. & vb. n. Pillaging ] To strip of money or goods by open violence; to plunder; to spoil; to lay waste; as, to pillage the camp of an enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mummius . . . took, pillaged, and burnt their city. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To take spoil; to plunder; to ravage. [ 1913 Webster ]

They were suffered to pillage wherever they went. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who pillages. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. pilerF. pilier, LL. pilare, pilarium, pilarius, fr. L. pila a pillar. See Pile a heap. ] 1. The general and popular term for a firm, upright, insulated support for a superstructure; a pier, column, or post; also, a column or shaft not supporting a superstructure, as one erected for a monument or an ornament. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jacob set a pillar upon her grave. Gen. xxxv. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

The place . . . vast and proud,
Supported by a hundred pillars stood. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figuratively, that which resembles such a pillar in appearance, character, or office; a supporter or mainstay; as, the Pillars of Hercules; a pillar of the state. “You are a well-deserving pillar.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (R. C. Ch.) A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church. [ Obs. ] Skelton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Man.) The center of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns. [ 1913 Webster ]

From pillar to post, hither and thither; to and fro; from one place or predicament to another; backward and forward. [ Colloq. ] --
Pillar saint. See Stylite. --
Pillars of the fauces. See Fauces, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]