Poltron, a coward, or dastard, wanting courage to perform any thing great or noble. The word is borrowed from the French, who, according to Salmius, derive it a pellice truncata; because anciently those who would avoid going to the wars, cut off their thumb. But Menage, with more probability, derives it from the Italian poltrone, and that from poltro a bed; because timorous, pusillanimous people, take pleasure in lying a-bed. Others choose to derive the word from the Italian, poltro, a colt; because of that creature's readiness to run away.

Poloski, a palatinate in the duchy of Lithuania, bounded on the north by the palatinate of Weytepski, on the south by the Dwina, on the north by Mulcovy, and on the west by Livonia. It is a desert country full of wood, and had formerly its own dukes.

Poloski, a town of Lithuania, and capital of a palatinate of the same name, with two castles to defend it. It was taken by the Muscovites in 1563, and retaken the same year. It is seated on the river Dwina, 50 miles south-west of Weytepski, and 80 east of Brawa. E. Long. 29. c. N. Lat. 56. 4.

Polyadelphia, (from πολυς, "many," and ἀδελφος, "brotherhood,") many brotherhoods. The name of the 13th class in Linnaeus's sexual system, consisting of plants with hermaphrodite flowers, in which several stamens or male organs are united by their filaments into three or more distinct bundles.

Polyandria, (πολυς, "many;" and ἀνδρος, "man, or husband,") many husbands; the name of the Polyanthus 13th class in Linnaeus's sexual method, consisting of plants with hermaphrodite flowers, which are furnished with several stamens, that are inserted into the common receptacle of the flower.

Polyanthus, in botany. See Primula.

Polyxenus, the name of many ancient personages, and principally of one who appears to have been a Macedonian, and the writer of eight books of Stratagemata, Stratagems of illustrious commanders in war. The best edition is that of Leyden 1690, 8vo. Numbers of these stratagems appear ridiculous or impracticable; but the book is of use to those who study the Greek language or antiquity. We have citations from other works of the same author.