King James Bible Dictionary

(Genesis 6:14), asphalt or bitumen in its soft state, called "slime" (Genesis 11:3; 14:10; Exodus 2:3), found in pits near the Dead Sea (q.v.). It was used for various purposes, as the coating of the outside of vessels and in building. Allusion is made in Isaiah 34:9 to its inflammable character. (See SLIME.)

An opaque mineral used as a plaster and cement
Isaiah 34:9

Used by Noah in the ark
Genesis 6:14

Used in making the ark in which Moses was hidden
Exodus 2:3
Bitumen

The three Hebrew words so translated all represent the same object, viz., mineral pitch or asphalt in its different aspects. Asphalt is an opaque, inflammable substance which bubbles up from subterranean fountains in a liquid state, and hardens by exposure to the air, but readily melts under the influence of heat. In the latter state it is very tenacious, and was used as a cement in lieu of mortar in Babylonia ((Genesis 11:3) as well as for coating the outside of vessels, (Genesis 6:14) and particularly for making the papyrus boats of the Egyptians water-tight. (Exodus 2:3) The jews and Arabians got their supply in large quantities from the Dead Sea, which hence received its classical name of Lacus Asphaltites .

PITCH, noun [Latin pix; Gr. most probably named from its thickness or inspissation; Latin figo.]

1. A thick tenacious substance, the juice of a species of pine or fir called abies picea, obtained by incision from the bark of the tree. When melted and pressed in bags of cloth, it is received into barrels. This is white or Burgundy pitch; by mixture with lampblack it is converted into black pitch When kept long in fusion with vinegar, it becomes dry and brown, and forms colophony. The smoke of pitch condensed forms lampblack.

2. The resin of pine, or turpentine, inspissated; used in caulking ships and paying the sides and bottom.

PITCH, noun [from the root of pike, peak.]

1. Literally, a point; hence, any point or degree of elevation; as a high pitch; lowest pitch

How high a pitch his resolution soars.

Alcibiades was one of the best orators of his age, notwithstanding he lived when learning was at its highest pitch

2. Highest rise.

3. Size; stature.

So like in person, garb and pitch

4. Degree; rate.

No pitch of glory from the grave is free.

5. The point where a declivity begins, or the declivity itself; descent; slope; as the pitch of a hill.

6. The degree of descent or declivity.

7. A descent; a fall; a thrusting down.

8. Degree of elevation of the key-note of a tune or of any note.

PITCH, verb transitive [Latin figo, to fix, and uniting pike, pique with fix.]

1. To throw or thrust, and primarily, to thrust a long or pointed object; hence, to fix; to plant; to set; as, to pitch a tent or pavilion, that is, to set the stakes.

2. To throw at a point; as, to pitch quoits.

3. To throw headlong; as, to pitch one in the mire or down a precipice.

4. To throw with a fork; as, to pitch hay or sheaves of corn.

5. To regulate or set the key-note of a tune in music.

6. To set in array; to marshal or arrange in order; used chiefly in the participle; as a pitched battle.

7. [from pitch ] To smear or pay over with pitch; as, to pitch the seams of a ship.

PITCH, verb intransitive To light; to settle; to come to rest from flight.

Take a branch of the tree on which the bees pitch and wipe the hive.

1. To fall headlong; as, to pitch from a precipice; to pitch on the head.

2. To plunge; as, to pitch into a river.

3. To fall; to fix choice; with on or upon.

PITCH upon the best course of life, and custom will render it the most easy.

4. To fix a tent or temporary habitation; to encamp.

Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. Genesis 31:25.

5. In navigation, to rise and fall, as the head and stern of a ship passing over waves.

6. To flow or fall precipitously, as a river.

Over this rock, the river pitches in one entire sheet.

PITCH'ED, participle passive Set; planted; fixed; thrown headlong; set in array; smeared with pitch.

A vessel for containing liquids. In the East pitchers were usually carried on the head or shoulders (Genesis 24:15-20; Judges 7:16, 19; Mark 14:13).

Earthen
Lamentations 4:2

Used by Gideon in his battle with the Midianites
Judges 7:10-20

This word is used in the Authorized Version to denote the earthen water-jars or pitchers with one or two handles, used chiefly by women for carrying water, as in the story of Rebekah. (Genesis 24:15-20) but see Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10 This mode of carrying has been and still is customary the East and elsewhere. The vessels used for the purpose are generally borne on the head or the shoulder. The Bedouin women commonly use skin bottles. Such was the "bottle" carried by Hagar (Genesis 21:14) The same word is used of the pitchers employed by Gideon's three hundred men. (Judges 7:16)

PITCH'ER, noun

1. An earthen vessel with a spout for pouring out liquors. This is its present signification. It seems formerly to have signified a water pot, jug or jar with ears.

2. An instrument for piercing the ground.

PITCH'FARTHING, noun A play in which copper coin is pitched into a hole; called also chuck-farthing, from the root of choke.

PITCH'FORK, noun A fork or farming utensil used in throwing hay or sheaves of grain, in loading or unloading carts and wagons.

PITCH'INESS, noun [from pitch.] Blackness; darkness. [Little used.]

PITCH'ING, participle present tense Setting; planting or fixing; throwing headlong; plunging; daubing with pitch; setting, as a tune.

1. adjective Declivous; descending; sloping; as a hill.

PITCH'ING, noun In navigation, the rising and falling of the head and stern of a ship, as she moves over waves; or the vertical vibration of a ship about her center of gravity.

PITCH'-ORE, noun Pitch-blend, an ore of uranium.

PITCH'PIPE, noun An instrument used by choristers in regulating the pitch or elevation of the key or leading note of a tune.

PITCH'-STONE, noun A mineral, a sub-species of quartz, which in luster and texture resembles pitch, whence its name. It is sometimes called resinite. Its colors are, several shades of green; black with green, brown or gray; brown, tinged with red, green or yellow; sometimes yellowish or blue. It occurs in large beds and sometimes forms whole mountains.

PITCH'Y, adjective Partaking of the qualities of pitch; like pitch.

1. Smeared with pitch.

2. Black; dark; dismal; as the pitchy mantle of night.