a genus of birds of the order picae. See ORNITHOLOGY Index.

Z.

Z, or z, the 24th and last letter, and the 19th consonant of our alphabet; the sound of which is formed by a motion of the tongue from the palate downwards and upwards to it again, with a fluttering and opening of the teeth at the fame time. This letter has been reputed a double consonant, having the sound ds; but some think with very little reason: and, as if we thought otherwise, we often double it, as in puzzle, muzzle, &c. Among the ancients, Z was a numeral letter, signifying 2000; and with a dash added a-top, Ž signified 2000 times 2000, or 4,000,000.

In abbreviations this letter formerly stood as a mark for several sorts of weights; sometimes it signified an ounce and a half; and very frequently it stood for half an ounce; sometimes for the eighth part of an ounce, or a dram troy weight; and it has in earlier times been used to express the third part of an ounce or eight scruples. ZZ were used by some of the ancient physicians to express myrrh, and at present they are often used to signify zinziber or ginger.