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pope

1. Any ecclesiastic, especially. A bishop.

2. The bishop of Rome, the head of the roman Catholic Church. See note under cardinal.

3. A parish priest, or a chaplain, of the greek Church.

4. (Science: zoology) A fish; the ruff. Pope Joan, a game at cards played on a round board with compartments. Pope's eye, the gland surrounded with fat in the middle of the thigh of an ox or sheep. Pope's nose, the rump, or uropygium, of a bird. See Uropygium.

Origin: AS. Papa, L. Papa father, bishop. Cf. Papa, Papal.