ame.

_To break Pegasus's neck_, to write halting poetry.

Some, free from rhyme or reason, rule or check,
Break Priscian's head, and Pegasus's neck.

Pope, _The Dunciad_, iii. 161 (1728).

[Asterism] To "break Priscian's head," is to write ungrammatically.
Priscian was a great grammarian of the fifth century.

=Pegg= (_Catharine_), one of the mistresses of Charles II. She was the
daughter of Thomas Pegg, Esq., of Yeldersay, in Derbyshire.

=Peggot'ty= (_Clara_), servant of Mrs. Copperfield, and the faithful old
nurse of David Copperfield. Her name "Clara" was tabooed, because it was
the name of Mrs. Copperfield. Clara Peggotty married Barkis, the
carrier.

Being very plump, whenever she made any little exertion after she
was dressed, some of the buttons on the back of her gown flew
off.--Ch. ii.

_Dan'el Peggotty_, brother of David Copperfield's nurse. Dan'el was a
Yarmouth fisherman. His nephew, Ham Peggotty, and his brother-in-law's
child, "little Em'ly," lived with him. Dan'el himself was a bachelor,
and Mrs. Gummidge (widow of his late partner) kept house for him. Dan'el
Peggotty was most tender-hearted, and loved little Em'ly with all his
heart.

_Ham Peggotty_, nephew of Dan'el Peggotty, of Yarmouth, and son of Joe,
Dan'el's brother. Ham was in love with little Em'ly, daughter of Tom
(Dan's brother-in-law), but Steerforth stepped in between them, and
stole Em'ly away. Ham Peggotty is represented as the very beau-ideal of
an uneducated, simple-minded, honest, and warm-hearted fisherman. He was
drowned in his attempt to rescue Steerforth from the sea.

_Em'ly Peggotty_, daughter of Dan's brother-in-law, Tom. She was engaged
to Ham Peggotty; but being fascinated with Steerforth, ran off with him.
She was afterwards reclaimed, and emigrated to Australia with Dan'el and
Mrs. Gummidge.--C. Dickens, _David Copperfield_ (1849).

=Peggy=, grandchild of the old widow Maclure, a covenanter.--Sir W. Scott,
_Old Mortality_ (time, Charles II.).

_Peggy_, the laundry-maid of Colonel Mannering, at Woodburne.--Sir W.
Scott, _Guy Mannering_ (time, George II.).

_Peggy_ (_Shippen_). A love-letter from Benedict Arnold to this young
lady is extant in which after telling her that he has presumed to write
to her papa and has requested his sanction to his addresses, Arnold
goes on to protest.

"May I perish if I would give you one moment's inquietude, to
purchase the greatest