pneumatical

CIDE DICTIONARY

pneumatical, a. [L. pneumaticus, Gr. , fr. , , wind, air, to blow, breathe; cf. OHG. fnehan: cf. F. pneumatique. Cf. Pneumonia.].

•  Consisting of, or resembling, air; having the properties of an elastic fluid; gaseous; opposed to dense or solid.  [1913 Webster]

  "The pneumatical substance being, in some bodies, the native spirit of the body."  [1913 Webster]
•  Of or pertaining to air, or to elastic fluids or their properties; pertaining to pneumatics; as, pneumatic experiments.  Stewart.  [1913 Webster]
•  Moved or worked by pressure or flow of air; as, a pneumatic instrument; a pneumatic engine.  [1913 Webster]
•  Fitted to contain air; Having cavities filled with air; as, pneumatic cells; pneumatic bones.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.