Words that start with P

A pipe is a long tube, similar to a hose. Pipes tend to be much larger in diameter than hoses, and are stiff not flexible. Some pipes are so large you can stand inside them. You may also be interested in a pipe for smoking.

Pirates sail around the oceans, stealing from other ships. This is called piracy and is still common to this day. The captain of a pirate ship was typically the strongest fighter and one the men could trust. Pirate ships would often take on outcasts from society to join their crew. The skull and crossbones design on the pirate's hat is known as the Jolly Roger. The pirate in the picture has most of the features that pirates in modern movies and cartoons have: a parrot, a wooden leg, a hook hand and an eyepatch. In reality, with the conditions found on ships in the 1600s, a pirate that suffered such injuries in battle would have died from infection.

Pistachios are the seeds of a medium sized tree native to Iran, Syria, Greece, Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. They are also called the green nut. The trees are slow to mature and are most productive at 20 years old. The trees grow best in desert areas, and tolerate very salty soil. Pistachio shells pop open when they are ripe. They are most often sold roasted and salted and just eaten plain, but they can also be used in desserts and some other types of food.

Pitcher plants, like venus fly traps and sundews, are carniverous plants. They eat insects because they grow in very poor soils and need the extra nutrients. Pitcher plants catch insects in deep pitchers that have smooth sides and something sweet at the bottom to attract insects. When an insect is caught inside, the lid of the pitcher closes. Some pitcher plants grow large enough to catch small animals.

Pith helmets are distinctively shaped, cloth covered helmets made from cork or pith. They were most frequently worn by European explorers in the tropics or desert, on safari.