PEEPUL, PIPUL, or PIPPED, Fleas religiosa, also knowR as the SACRED FIG of India, and in Ceylon called the Bo TREE; a species of fig (q.v.) somewhat resembling the ban yan, but the branches not rooting like those of that tree, and the leaves heart-shaped with long attenuated points. The tree is held sacred by the, Hindus, because Vishnu is said to have been born under it. It is generally planted near temples, and religious . devotees spend thehr lives under its shade. It is also held sacred by the Buddhists. It attains a great size and age. The peepul is often planted near houses, and by the sides of walks, for the sake of its grateful shade. The juice contains caoutchnuc, and is used by women as bandoline. Lac insects feed upon this tree, and much lac is obtained from it. The fruit is not much larger than a grape, and although eatable, is not valued.
PEER (Fr. pair; Let. par, equal), a general name applied to the titled nobility of Great Britain and Ireland, indicating their equality of rank. The peerage includes the various degrees of baron, viscount, earl, marquis, and duke. The peers of England, of
Great Britain, of the United Kingdom, and certain representative peers of Scotland and Ireland, together with certain of the bishops and archbishops, who are called lords ' spiritual, constitute the house of lords. The dignity of the peerage is hereditary, but in early times was territorial. Lifd peerages seem at one time to have been not unknown in England: but in 1856 sir James Parke, having been created by her maksty baron Wensleydale "for and during the term of his natural life," the house of lords, on the report of a committee of privileges, held that he was not entitled to sit and vote in par liament. Ladies may be peeresses in their own right, either by creation or by inherit ance. The wives of peers are also styled peeresses. Under the articles NOBILITY, PAR LIAMENT, DUKE, MARQUIS, EARL, VISCOUNT, and BARON, will be found notices of tacit order of peers, and of the origin, history, and privileges of the peers as a body.
A certain limited number of tire French nubility were styled peers of France.