Pneumatic dispatch
(gcide) | Pneumatic \Pneu*mat"ic\, Pneumatical \Pneu*mat"ic*al\, a. [L.
pneumaticus, Gr. ?, fr. ?, ?, wind, air, ? to blow, breathe;
cf. OHG. fnehan: cf. F. pneumatique. Cf. Pneumonia.]
1. Consisting of, or resembling, air; having the properties
of an elastic fluid; gaseous; opposed to dense or solid.
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The pneumatical substance being, in some bodies, the
native spirit of the body. --Bacon.
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2. Of or pertaining to air, or to elastic fluids or their
properties; pertaining to pneumatics; as, pneumatic
experiments. "Pneumatical discoveries." --Stewart.
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3. Moved or worked by pressure or flow of air; as, a
pneumatic instrument; a pneumatic engine.
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4. (Biol.) Fitted to contain air; Having cavities filled with
air; as, pneumatic cells; pneumatic bones.
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5. Adapted for containing compressed air; inflated with air;
as, a pneumatic cushion; a pneumatic tire, a tire formed
of an annular tube of flexible fabric, as India rubber,
suitable for being inflated with air.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Pneumatic action, or Pneumatic lever (Mus.), a
contrivance for overcoming the resistance of the keys and
other movable parts in an organ, by causing compressed air
from the wind chest to move them.
Pneumatic dispatch, a system of tubes, leading to various
points, through which letters, packages, etc., are sent,
by the flow and pressure of air.
Pneumatic elevator, a hoisting machine worked by compressed
air.
Pneumatic pile, a tubular pile or cylinder of large
diameter sunk by atmospheric pressure.
Pneumatic pump, an air-exhausting or forcing pump.
Pneumatic railway. See Atmospheric railway, under
Atmospheric.
Pneumatic syringe, a stout tube closed at one end, and
provided with a piston, for showing that the heat produced
by compressing a gas will ignite substances.
Pneumatic trough, a trough, generally made of wood or sheet
metal, having a perforated shelf, and used, when filled
with water or mercury, for collecting gases in chemical
operations.
Pneumatic tube. See Pneumatic dispatch, above.
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