Definition of "periapt" [per•i•apt]

• A charm worn as protection against mischief and disease; an amulet. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The periapt is a vital neck slot item which serves as a much needed alternative to the "amulet", "necklace" or "pendant"."
• "It is apodeictic that, while perhaps obscure, words like "skirr" and "periapt" serve uniquely expressive purposes and cannot be subrogated by other, more commonplace words."
• "They created a unique artifact -- part radio, part recording and playback device, part ... hypnotic periapt, tuned to sniffer brainwaves: the Contequar."