Etymology dictionary

purpose (v.) — pyrogenesis (n.)

purpose (v.)

late 14c., purposen, "to intend (to do or be something); put forth for consideration, propose," from Anglo-French purposer "to design," Old French purposer, porposer "to intend, propose," variant of proposer "propose, advance, suggest" (see propose).

Generally with an infinitive. Intransitive sense of "to have intention or design" is by mid-15c. According to Century Dictionary, "The verb should prop. be accented on the last syllable (as in propose, compose, etc.), but it has conformed to the noun," which is wholly from Latin while the verb is partly of different origin (see pose (n.2)).

purposely (adv.)

"intentionally, by design," late 15c., from purpose (n.) + -ly (2).

purposeless (adj.)

"lacking use, without practical advantage, aimless," 1550s, from purpose (n.) + -less. Related: Purposelessly; purposelessness.

purpura (n.)

disease characterized by eruptions of purple patches on the skin, 1753, from Modern Latin, from Latin purpura "purple dye" (see purple (n.)). Related: Purpuric.

purpurescent (adj.)

"purplish, tinged with purple," 1890, in zoology, from Latin purpura (see purple (n.)) + -escent. The Latin adjective was purparescent, present participle of purpurascere "to become purple," from purpurare.

purr (v.)

"uttering a low, murmuring sound expressive of satisfaction or pleasure, as a cat," 1610s, of imitative origin. Related: Purred; purring. As a noun, "sound made by a purring cat," from c. 1600. A similar imitative word, curr "make a low murmuring sound, purr" (1670s), was used of doves and cats.

purse (v.)

c. 1300, pursen, "put (money) in a purse;" c. 1600 as "draw together and wrinkle" (as the strings of a money bag), from purse (n.). For sense, compare pucker (v.), probably from poke "bag, sack." Related: Pursed; pursing.

purse (n.)

Middle English purs, purse, from Old English pursa "little bag or pouch made of leather," especially for carrying money, from Medieval Latin bursa "leather purse" (source also of Old French borse, 12c., Modern French bourse; compare bourse), from Late Latin bursa, variant of byrsa "hide," from Greek byrsa "hide, leather." Change of b- to p- perhaps is by influence of Old English pusa, Old Norse posi "bag."

From c. 1300 as "the royal treasury;" figurative sense of "money, means, resources, funds" is from mid-14c. Meaning "sum of money collected as a prize in a race, etc.," is from 1640s. Meaning "woman's handbag" is attested by 1879. Also in Middle English "scrotum" (c. 1300).

Purse-strings, figurative for "control of money," is by early 15c. Purse-snatcher first attested 1902 (earlier purse-picker, 1540s; purse-cutter, mid-15c.; pursekerver, late 14c.). The notion of "drawn together by a thong" also is behind purse-net "bag-shaped net with a draw string," used in hunting and fishing (c. 1400). Purse-proud (1680s) was an old term for "proud of one's wealth."

purser (n.)

mid-15c., "treasurer, official charged with the keeping of accounts and the distribution of money," especially "caretaker of accounts and provisions on a ship," originally also "maker of purses" (mid-14c.; late 13c. as a surname), agent noun from Middle English purse (see purse (n.)).

purse-seine (n.)

"seine or fishing net which may be pursed or drawn into the shape of a bag," by 1855; see purse (n.) + seine. Earlier was purse-net (late 14c.), "fishing net with a bag to contain a stone for sinking the net," also "bag-shaped net with a draw-string for hunting hares, etc."

purslane (n.)

herbaceous plant, used in salads and medicinally, late 14c., purcelane, via Anglo-French from Old French porcelaine, pourcelaine, from Latin porcilaca, a variant of portulaca. Apparently altered in French and Italian (porcellana) by influence of their equivalent of porcelain.

pursue (v.)

late 13c., "follow with hostile intent, follow with a view of overtaking," from Anglo-French pursuer and directly from Old French poursuir (Modern French poursuivre), variant of porsivre "to chase, pursue, follow; continue, carry on," from Vulgar Latin *prosequare, from Latin prosequi "follow, accompany, attend; follow after, escort; follow up, pursue," from pro- "forward" (see pro-) + sequi "follow" (from PIE root *sekw- (1) "to follow").

The meaning "to proceed, to follow" (a path, etc.), usually figurative (in reference to a course of action, etc.), is from late 14c. This sense also was in Latin. The meaning "seek, seek to obtain" also is late 14c. Related: Pursued; pursuing. For sense, compare prosecute.

pursual (n.)

"act of pursuit, pursuance," 1786, from pursue + -al (2). Earlier was pursuance and the verbal noun pursuing "action of giving chase" (late 14c.).

pursuance (n.)

"act of following or pursuing," 1590s, from French poursuiance "act of pursuing," from Old French poursuir "to chase, pursue, follow; continue, carry on" (see pursue).

pursuant (adj.)

late 14c., "done in consequence of or in prosecution of something," from Anglo-French pursuant, from Old French poursuiant, porsivant, present participle of porsuir, porsivre "chase, pursue" (see pursue). Meaning "carrying out; following, according" is from 1690s. As an adverb, "according, agreeably," 1670s. As a noun, "one who seeks, an aspirant," late 14c.

pursuer (n.)

late 14c., purseuere, "one who follows or chases with hostility, a persecutor or tormenter," agent noun from pursue.

pursuit (n.)

late 14c., "persecution" (a sense now obsolete), also "a chase with hostile intent," from Anglo-French purseute, pursuite, Old French porsuite "a search, pursuit" (14c., Modern French poursuite), from porsivre (see pursue).

Meaning "action of following briskly for the purpose of overtaking" (regardless of intent) is from mid-15c. Sense of "one's profession, recreation, etc." is attested from 1520s on the notion of "object of one's continued exertions, what one follows or engages in." As a type of track cycling race from 1938.

purty (adj.)

1829, representing a colloquial pronunciation of pretty (adj.).

purulent (adj.)

early 15c., purulente, "pus-colored," from Latin purulentus "full of pus," from pus (genitive puris) "pus" (see pus). Meaning "consisting of pus" is from 1590s. Related: Purulence.

purvey (v.)

c. 1300, purveien, "make previous arrangements," also "think beforehand, consider" (senses now obsolete); early 14c. as "prepare (something), make (something) ready;" late 14c. as "provide, supply (a necessity), furnish (what is needed)," from Anglo-French porveire, purveire and directly from Old French porveoir "to provide, prepare, arrange" (Modern French pourvoir), from Latin providere "look ahead, prepare, supply, act with foresight," from pro "ahead" (see pro-) + videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see"). Compare provide, which now usually replaces it. Related: Purveyed; purveying.

purveyance (n.)

c. 1300, purveiaunce, "foresight, foreknowledge, prudence, wisdom" (senses now obsolete), from Anglo-French purveance and directly from Old French porveance, pourveance, from Latin providentia (see providence). From early 14c. as "that which is needed or provided," late 14c. as "act of providing or procuring what is necessary, preliminary arrangement."

purveyor (n.)

early 14c., purveiour, "one who goes ahead to prepare the way;" also "one who is in charge of provisions for a household;" mid-14c., "one who procures and supplies necessities," from Anglo-French purveyour, Old French porveor (13c.), agent noun from porveoir (see purvey).

purview (n.)

mid-15c., purveu, in law, "the body of a statute, the substance of an act," from Anglo-French purveu est "it is provided," or purveu que "provided that" (late 13c.), clauses that introduced statutes in old legal documents, from Anglo-French purveu, Old French porveu (Modern French pourvu) "provided," past participle of porveoir "to provide," from Latin providere "look ahead, prepare, supply, act with foresight," from pro "ahead" (see pro-) + videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see").

The extended sense of "scope, extent" is attested by 1788 in "Federalist" (Madison). Modern sense and spelling influenced by view (n.).

Pusey

family name, early 13c., from Le Puiset in France. Puseyism, Puseyite (1838) are in reference to the principles and teachings characteristic of the High-church party in the Church of England, originating at Oxford University in early 19c., so called for E.B. Pusey (1800-1882), professor of Hebrew there, who was one of its leaders.

push (n.)

1560s, "a driving or impelling thrust," from push (v.). By 1590s as "a vigorous attempt." By 1803 as "a determined advance, a pushing forward." The sense of "persevering enterprise, a determined effort to get on" especially if inconsiderate of others is by 1855. Phrase when push comes to shove "when action must back up threats" is by 1936. An earlier Middle English noun push "a pustule, pimple, boil" probably is from pus by influence of push.

push (v.)

c. 1300, pushen, "to shove, move onward, strike with a thrusting motion, thrust forcibly against for the purpose of impelling," from Old French poulser (Modern French pousser), from Latin pulsare "to beat, strike, push," frequentative of pellere (past participle pulsus) "to push, drive, beat" (from PIE root *pel- (5) "to thrust, strike, drive").

Transitive meaning "urge, incite, press" is by 1570s; that of "promote, advance or extend by persistence or diligent effort" is from 1714; intransitive sense of "make one's way with force and persistence (against obstacles, etc.)" is by 1718. The meaning "approach a certain age" is from 1937. For palatization of -s-, OED compares brush (n.1); quash. Related: Pushed; pushing.

To push (someone) around "bully, browbeat, domineer" is by 1923. To push (one's) luck is from 1754. To push the envelope in the figurative sense is by late 1980s.

push-button (adj.)

"characterized by the use of push-buttons," 1945, originally of military systems, earlier "operated by push-buttons" (1903), from push-button (n.) "button pressed with the finger to effect some operation," 1865, from push (v.) + button (n.). Earlier adjective was press-button (1892), from the noun (1879).

push-cart (n.)

"hand-cart," by 1893, from push (v.) + cart (n.).

pusher (n.)

1590s in a literal sense, "one who or that which pushes," agent noun from push (v.). Used in various mechanical senses; the meaning "peddler of illegal drugs" (1935 in prison slang) is from the verb in the "promote" sense.

pushy (adj.)

"unpleasantly forward or aggressive," 1894 of persons (1891 of a cow), from push (n.) in the "determined effort to get on" sense + -y (2). Related: Pushily; pushiness.

pushmi-pullyu (n.)

fictional two-headed mammal from "Dr. Dolittle" (1922), coined by Hugh Lofting from the expressions push me, pull you. Popularized by the 1967 film version of the book.

push-off (n.)

"act of pushing off" (a boat, from the land), 1902, from the verbal phrase; see push (v.) + off (adv.).

pushover (n.)

also push-over, "something easily done or overcome," 1900 of jobs or tasks; 1922 of persons (incompetent boxers and easy women), from the verbal phrase; see push (v.) + over (adv.).

push-up (n.)

also pushup, type of physical exercise (originally done on parallel bars), 1893, from the verbal phrase (by 1660s); see push (v.) + up (adv.). As an adjective, "that pushes up or may be pushed up," from 1892; of bras from 1957. Related: Push-ups

pusillanimity (n.)

late 14c., pusillanimite, "timidity, faint-heartedness, lack of the spirit of courage or fortitude," from Old French pusillanimité (14c.) and directly from Church Latin pusillanimitatem (nominative pusillanimitas) "faint-heartedness," from Latin pusillanimis "faint-hearted, having little courage" (see pusillanimous).

pusillanimous (adj.)

early 15c., pusillanimus, "timid, lacking strength and firmness of mind," from Late Latin pusillanimis "having little courage" (used in Church Latin to translate Greek oligopsykhos "small-souled"), from Latin pusillis "very weak, little" (diminutive of pullus "young animal," from PIE root *pau- (1) "few, little") + animus "spirit, courage" (see animus). Related: Pusillanimously; pusillanimousness.

puss (n.1)

"cat," 1520s, but probably much older than the record, perhaps imitative of the hissing sound commonly used to get a cat's attention or the noise made by the cat in hissing. The same or similar sound is a conventional name for a cat in Germanic languages and as far off as Afghanistan; it is the root of the principal word for "cat" in Rumanian (pisica) and secondary words in Lithuanian (puž, word used for calling a cat), Low German (puus), Swedish dialect katte-pus, Irish puisin "a kitten," etc.

Applied to a girl or woman from c. 1600, originally in a negative sense, implying unpleasant cat-like qualities, but by mid-19c. in affectionate use.

Children's game puss-in-the-corner is attested by that name by 17-9.

puss (n.2)

"the face" (but sometimes, especially in pugilism slang, "the mouth"), especially when sour-looking or ugly, 1890, slang, from Irish pus "lip, mouth."

pussy (n.2)

slang for "female pudenda," by 1879, but probably older; perhaps from Old Norse puss "pocket, pouch" (compare Low German puse "vulva"), or perhaps instead from the cat word (see pussy (n.1)) on the notion of "soft, warm, furry thing;" compare French le chat, which also has a double meaning, feline and genital. Earlier uses are difficult to distinguish from pussy (n.1), e.g.:

And songs such as "Puss in a Corner" (1690, attributed to D'Urfey) clearly play on the double sense of the word for ribald effect. But the absence of pussy in Grose and other early slang works argues against the vaginal sense being generally known before late 19c., as does its frequent use as a term of endearment in mainstream literature, as in:

Pussy-whipped "hen-pecked" is attested by 1956 (Middle English had cunt-beaten "impotent," in reference to a man, mid-15c.).

pussy (adj.)

"full of pus," from pus (n.) + -y (2). In this sense Middle English had pushi (mid-15c.), from a variant of pus.

pussy (n.1)

"cat," by 1690s, a diminutive of puss (n.1), also used of a rabbit (1715). As a term of endearment for a girl or woman, from 1580s (also used of effeminate men), and applied childishly to anything soft and furry. To play pussy was World War II RAF slang for "take advantage of cloud cover, jumping from cloud to cloud to shadow a potential victim or avoid recognition."

pussy-cat (n.)

also pussycat, "a cat," 1773, pleonastic, from pussy (n.1) + cat (n.). Applied to persons by 1859.

pussyfoot (v.)

also pussy-foot, 1903, "tread softly," from pussy (n.1) + foot (n.). As a noun from 1911, "a detective," American English, from the nickname of U.S. government Indian Affairs agent W.E. Johnson (1862-1945), in charge of suppressing liquor traffic on Indian reservations in Oklahoma, who was noted for his stealthy tactics. Related: Pussyfooting; pussy-footed (1893).

pussy-willow (n.)

popular name of a type of common American shrub or small tree, by 1835, a country or children's word, from pussy (n.1) + willow. So called for the small and very silky catkins it produces in early spring. Also sometimes pussy-cat (1850).

pustule (n.)

"small, inflammatory sore or tumor containing pus," late 14c., from Old French pustule (13c.) and directly from Latin pustula "blister, pimple" (from PIE imitative root *pu- (1) "blow, swell," on notion of "inflated area;" source also of Sanskrit pupphusah "lung," Greek physa "breath, blast, wind, bubble," Lithuanian pučiu, pūsti "to blow, swell," Old Church Slavonic puchati "to blow"). Compare emphysema. Related: Pustulant; pustulate; pustulation.

pustular (adj.)

"of the nature of a pustule," 1739; see pustule + -ar.

put (v.)

Middle English putten, from late Old English *putian, "to thrust, push, shove" (someone or something; a sense now obsolete), also "to move or a thing physically so as to place it in some situation," implied in putung "instigation, an urging," literally "a putting;" related to pytan "put out, thrust out" (of eyes), probably from a Germanic stem that also produced Danish putte "to put," Swedish dialectal putta; Middle Dutch pote "scion, plant," Dutch poten "to plant," Old Norse pota "to poke."

Obsolete past tense form putted is attested 14c.-15c. From c. 1300 as "to hurl, cast, propel," especially "to throw with an upward and forward motion of the arm" (Will. Putstan is attested as a name from 1296). From mid-14c. in the figurative sense of "bring (someone) into some specified state or condition;" late 14c. as "subject (someone to something)," as in put to death, c. 1400; put to shame, mid-15c. From mid-14c. as "make a declaration, express in speech or writing," hence "express or state (in a particular way)," 1690s, also "propose or place before someone for consideration."

To put (something) back is from 1530s as "to hinder, delay;" 1816 as "restore to the original place or position." To put (something) down "end by force or authority" (a rebellion, etc.) is from mid-14c. To put upon (someone) "play a trick on, impose on" is from 1690s. To put up with "tolerate, accept, bear or suffer without protest or resentment" (1755) is perhaps from put up "to take up" (one's lodgings, etc.), 1727. To put (someone) up in the transitive sense of "lodge and entertain" is by 1766. To put (someone) on "deceive" is from 1958. To put upon (someone) "play a trick on, deceive, impose on" is from 1690s.

put (n.)

c. 1300, "act of throwing a stone or other heavy weight overhand as a test of strength," from put (v.). General meaning "act of putting" is from early 15c. Also compare putt (n.).

putative (adj.)

"supposed, reputed, commonly thought of or deemed," early 15c., from Late Latin putativus "supposed," from putat-, past-participle stem of Latin putare "to judge, suppose, believe, suspect," originally "to clean, trim, prune" (from PIE root *pau- (2) "to cut, strike, stamp"). At first especially in putative marriage, one which, though legally invalid due to an impediment, was contracted in good faith by at least one party. Related: Putatively.

put-down (n.)

"insult, snub," 1962, from verbal phrase put down "to snub," attested from c. 1400 in this sense, earlier (c. 1300) "to lower, let down," also (mid-14c.) "to throw down, reject;" see put (v.) + down (adv.). To put (something) down "end by force or authority" (a rebellion, etc.) is from mid-14c. Compare set-down "a rebuff, a scolding" (1780).

put-on (n.)

"ruse, deception," 1937, from earlier adjectival meaning "assumed, feigned" (1620s), a figurative extension of the verbal phrase on the notion of putting on costumes or disguises. To put on (v.), of clothes, garments, etc., is by early 15c.; see from put (v.) + on (adv.). Hence "clothe, cover, assume as covering" (mid-15c.) and "assume the garb or appearance of" (real or feigned), 1520s. The expression put (someone) on "play a trick on, deceive" (by 1958) seems to be a back-formation from the noun.

put-out (adj.)

"offended, angry, upset," by 1887, from the verbal phrase in the sense of "offend," attested by 1822; see put (v.) + out (adv.). Perhaps via the earlier sense of "cause to lose self-possession, disconcert" (1580s). The verbal phrase is from mid-14c. as "drive out, banish, exile;" from 1520s as "extinguish" (a fire or burning object). To put out, of a woman, "to offer oneself for sex" is attested by 1947.

put-put

indicating the sound of a muffled internal combustion engine, 1904, imitative. Applied to various engines or objects which make such a sound.

putrefaction (n.)

c. 1400, putrefaccioun, "process of decomposition of organic matter," from Old French putrefaction (14c.), from Latin putrefactionem (nominative putrefactio), noun of action from past-participle stem of putrefacere "to make rotten," from putrere "to be rotten" (see putrid) + facere "to make, do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). By early 15c. as "that which is putrid or decomposed." Putrification sometimes also is used. Related: Putrefactive.

putrefy (v.)

late 14c., putrefien, "to decompose, rot, decay with a fetid smell," from Old French putréfier and directly from Latin putrefacere "to make rotten," from putrere "to stink" (see putrid) + facere "to make, do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). Transitive sense of "cause to decompose or rot" is from early 15c. Related: Putrefied; putrefying.

putrescent (adj.)

"becoming or growing putrid or rotten," 1732, a back-formation from putrescence, or else from Latin putrescentem (nominative putrescens), present participle of putrescere "grow rotten, molder, decay," inchoative of putrere "be rotten" (see putrid).

putrescence (n.)

"a putrid state; tendency to decay," 1640s, from Latin putrescentem (nominative putrescens), present participle of putrescere "grow rotten, molder, decay," inchoative of putrere "be rotten" (see putrid). Related: Putrescency.

putridity (n.)

"corruption, rottenness, putrid matter," 1630s, from Medieval Latin putriditas, from Latin putridus (see putrid). In this sense Middle English had putrede (c. 1400).

putrid (adj.)

late 14c., "festering gangrenous, in a state of decay," from Old French putride and directly from Latin putridus, from putrere "to rot," from putris "rotten, crumbling," related to putere "to stink," from PIE root *pu- (2) "to rot, stink" (see pus). First in reference to putrid fever, an old name for typhus (also known in Middle English as putrida), which supposedly was caused by putrefaction of bodily humors. Related: Putridness.

putsch (n.)

"attempted revolution," especially via direct action and rioting in city streets, 1920, from German Putsch "revolt, riot," from Swiss dialect, literally "a sudden blow, push, thrust, shock," of imitative origin (compare put (v.)).

putt (n.)

1660s, originally figurative, "a putting, pushing, shoving, thrusting," special Scottish use and pronunciation of put (n.). Golfing sense of "to play with a putter" is from 1743.

putt (v.)

1510s, Scottish, "to push, shove, butt" (a sense now obsolete), a special use and pronunciation of put (v.). Golfing sense of "strike the ball gently and carefully" is from 1743. Meaning "to throw" (a stone, as a demonstration of strength) in this spelling is from 1724; this also is the putt in shot-putting. Related: Putted; putting.

puttee (n.)

"long strip of cloth wound round the lower leg as protection by soldiers, etc., 1875, patawa (1886 as puttie; modern spelling by 1900), from Hindi patti "band, bandage," from Sanskrit pattah "strip of cloth."

putter (v.)

"keep busy in a rather useless way," 1841, originally among farmers, alteration of potter (v.). Related: Puttered; puttering.

putter (n.)

late 14c., "beast that pushes with the head;" early 15c., "one who puts or places," agent noun from put (v.). Meaning "one who throws (a stone or other heavy weight)" is by 1820. As a type of golf club with a stiff and comparatively short staff, used when the ball lies a short distance from the hole, by 1743; see putt (v.).

putty (v.)

"to cover with putty, mend or join with putty," 1734, from putty (n.). Related: Puttied; puttying.

putti (n.)

"representations of cupid-like nude children common in old art (15c. and after, originally in Italy), 1640s, from Italian putti "small boys," plural of putto, from Latin putus "boy, child" (see puerility).

putty (n.)

1630s, "type of plasterer's fine paste or cement," from French potée "polishing powder" (12c.), originally "pot-full, contents of a pot," from Old French pot "container" (see pot (n.1)).

From 1660s as "powder used for polishing glass or metals." The meaning "soft pasty mixture for sealing window panes" is recorded by 1706. Figurative use in reference to one easily influenced is from 1924. Putty knife, one with a blunt, flexible blade, used by glaziers, etc., for laying on putty, is attested from 1834.

putz (n.)

"obnoxious man, fool," by 1964, from Yiddish, from German putz, literally "finery, adornment," obviously used here in an ironic sense. Attested in writing earlier in slang sense of "penis" (1934, in "Tropic of Cancer"). A non-ironic sense is in putz "Nativity display around a Christmas tree" (1873), from Pennsylvania Dutch (German), which retains the old German sense.

puzzle (v.)

1590s, pusle "bewilder, confound, perplex with difficult problems or questions," possibly frequentative of pose (v.) in obsolete sense of "perplex" (compare nuzzle from nose). To puzzle (something) out "resolve or discover by long cogitation or careful investigation" is by 1781. Related: Puzzled; puzzling.

puzzle (n.)

c. 1600, "state of being puzzled," from puzzle (v.); meaning "perplexing question, difficult problem" is from 1650s; that of "a toy contrived to test one's ingenuity" is from 1814. Puzzle-ring "number of small rings intertwined inseparably with one another that can be arranged as a single ring" is by 1877.

puzzling (adj.)

"bewildering, perplexing," 1660s, present-participle adjective from puzzle (v.). Related: Puzzlingly.

puzzlement (n.)

"bewilderment, state of being puzzled," by 1802, from puzzle (v.) + -ment. From 1842 as "a thing that puzzles" (compare puzzler). In the former sense Richardson used puzzledom (1748).

puzzler (n.)

"one who or that which perplexes," 1650s, agent noun from puzzle (v.).

pvc (n.)

also P.V.C., initialism (acronym) from polyvinyl chloride (1933); see polyvinyl.

pwned (adj.)

"dominated, humiliatingly defeated, taken over," by 2001, "leetspeak" slang, probably from the common typographical mistake for owned (the -p- and -o- keys being adjacent on standard English keyboards) in the gamer slang sense "completely dominated by another" (in a contest).

Pyanepsia (n.)

festival in honor of Apollo on the 7th of Pyanepsion (fourth month of the Attic calendar, corresponding to October-November), from Greek Pyanepsia (plural), literally "the feast of cooking beans," from pyanos, variant of kyamos, name of a kind of bean, a word of unknown origin (perhaps foreign or Pre-Greek), + epsein "to boil, cook." At this festival a dish of pulse was offered to the god.

pycno-

before vowels pycn-, word-forming element meaning "close, thick, dense," from Latinized combining form of Greek pyknos "thick, dense, solid, compact; numerous; strong; brave; clever," which is of uncertain origin. Often in English via German as pykno-.

pycnometer (n.)

"instrument for determining the relative density of solid bodies," by 1858; see pycno- + -meter.

pyelo-

before vowels pyel-, medical word-forming element used from mid-19c. in forming medical terms, from Greek pyelos "oblong trough, bathing-tub," a word of uncertain etymology, taken in modern scientific use for "pelvis."

Pygmalion

legendary Greek sculptor/goldsmith who created a beautiful statue of a woman he made and wished to life, from Greek Pygmaliōn. The story is centered on Cyprus and his name might be a Greek folk-etymology adaptation of a foreign word, perhaps from Phoenician. Notable in 20c. for the Pygmalion word, a British euphemistic substitute for bloody, from the notorious use of that word in Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" (1913: "Walk? Not bloody likely!"), the basis of the 1964 movie "My Fair Lady."

pygmy (n.)

late 14c., Pigmei, "member of a fabulous race of dwarfs," described by Homer and Herodotus and said to inhabit Egypt or Ethiopia and India, from Latin Pygmaei (singular Pygmaeus), from Greek Pygmaioi, plural of Pygmaios "a Pygmy," noun use of adjective meaning "dwarfish."

It means etymologically "of the length of a pygmē; a pygmē tall," from pygmē "a cubit" (literally "a fist"), the measure of length from the elbow to the knuckle (equal to 18 "fingers," or about 13.5 inches; related to pyx "with clenched fist" and to Latin pugnus "fist" (from PIE root *peuk- "to prick"). The Greek use of the word in reference to the people presumably represents a folk etymology adaptation of a foreign word.

Figurative use for "person of small importance" is from 1590s. Believed in 17c. to refer to chimpanzees or orangutans, and occasionally the word was used in this sense. The ancient word was applied by Europeans to the equatorial African race, then newly discovered by them, from 1863, but the tribes probably were known to the ancients and likely were the original inspiration for the legend. As an adjective from 1590s. Related: Pygmean; Pygmaean.

pyjamas (n.)

also pyjama (adj.), chiefly British English spelling of pajamas. Early spellings in English also include pai jamahs (1800); pigammahs (1834), peijammahs (1840).

pylon (n.)

1823, "gateway to an Egyptian temple," from Greek pylon "gateway," from pylē "gate, wing of a pair of double gates; an entrance, entrance into a country; mountain pass; narrow strait of water," a word of unknown etymology, perhaps a foreign technical term. The usual word for "door" in PIE in Greek took the form thyra (see thyroid). Meaning "tower for guiding aviators" (1909) led to that of "steel tower for high-tension wires" (1923).

pylorus (n.)

"orifice of communication between the stomach and intestines," 1610s, from Late Latin pylorus "the lower orifice of the stomach," from Greek pylōros "lower orifice of the stomach," literally "gatekeeper, porter," from pylē "gate" (see pylon) + ouros "watcher, guardian" (from PIE root *wer- (3) "perceive, watch out for"). Related: Pyloric.

pyo-

word-forming element used from mid-19c. and meaning "pus," from Greek puon "pus" (see pus).

pyogenic (adj.)

"having relation in the formation of pus," 1835, from pyogenesis, medical Latin; see pyo- "pus" + -genic "producing." Related: Pyogenetic (1855); pyogenesis.

Pyongyang

North Korean capital, from Korean p'yong "flat" + yang "land."

pyracanth (n.)

thorny evergreen shrub of the apple family, found in the south of Europe, bearing white flowers and scarlet berries, 1660s, from Modern Latin genus name Pyracantha, from Greek pyrakantha (Dioscorides), a plant named but not described, from pyr "fire" (from PIE root *paewr- "fire") + akantha, akanthos "thorn, thorny plant" (from PIE root *ak- "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce").

pyramid (n.)

1550s "massive monumental stone structure of polygonl plan, the sides of which slope in planes to a common apex," also a geometrical solid resembling this, (earlier in Latin form piramis, late 14c., or nativized in Middle English as piram), from French pyramide (Old French piramide "obelisk, stela," 12c.), from Latin pyramides, plural of pyramis "one of the pyramids of Egypt," from Greek pyramis (plural pyramidēs) "a pyramid," which is apparently an alteration of Egyptian pimar "pyramid."

Greek pyramis also meant "kind of cake of roasted wheat-grains preserved in honey," and in this sense is said to derive from pyros "wheat" on the model of sesamis. According to some old sources the Egyptian pyramids were so called from their resemblance to the form of the cake, but Beekes points out that "the form of the cake is actually unknown."

Figurative of anything with a broad base and a small tip. Financial senses are by 1911. Related: Pyramidal (late 14c., piramidal). Elyot (1545) explains Latin pyramidatus as "made steeple-wise, brode beneth and small and sharpe vpward."

pyre (n.)

"pile or heap of wood or other combustible materials for burning a dead body," 1650s, from Latin pyra and directly from Greek pyra (Ionic pyrē) "funeral pyre; altar for sacrifice; watch-fire; hearth; any place where fire is kindled," from pyr "fire" (from PIE root *paewr- "fire," source also of fire (n.)). Related: Pyral.

Pyrenees

chain of mountains between France and Spain, 1550s, from French Pyrénées, from Latin Pyrenæi montes, from Greek Pyrēnē, name of a daughter of Bebryx/Bebrycius who was beloved of Herakles; she is said to be buried in these mountains (or that the mountains are the tomb Herakles reared over her corpse).

The name is said to mean literally "fruit-stone," but Room says it might be Greek pyr "fire" + eneos "dumb, speechless," which perhaps translates or folk-etymologizes a Celtic goddess name. "In medieval times there was no overall name for the range and local people would have known only the names of individual mountains and valleys" [Adrian Room, "Place Names of the World," 2nd ed., 2006]. Related: Pyrenean.

pyretic (adj.)

"characterized by or affected with fever," 1809, from French pyrétique or directly from Modern Latin pyreticus, from Greek pyretos "fever, burning heat," related to pyr "fire" (from PIE root *paewr- "fire"). As a noun, "a pyretic agent," from 1728.

Pyrex (n.)

1915, proprietary name (Corning Glass Works, Corning, N.Y.) of a type of hard, heat-resistant glass, an arbitrary coinage, in which advertisement writers and eager etymologists see implications of Greek pyr "fire" and perhaps Latin rex "king;" but the prosaic inventors say it was based on pie (n.1), because pie dishes were among the first products made from it. The -r-, in that case, is purely euphonious.

pyrexia (n.)

"fever, a higher bodily temperature than is normal," 1769, medical Latin, from Greek pyrexis "feverishness," from pyressein "to be feverish, to be ill of fever," from pyretos "fever, burning heat" (related to pyr "fire," from PIE root *paewr- "fire") + abstract noun ending -ia. Formerly sometimes nativized as pyrexy. Related: Pyrexial; pyrexic; pyrexical.

pyrgologist (n.)

"one versed in the structure and history of towers," 1877, from Greek pyrgos "a tower, wall-tower, siege-tower; highest point of a building" (a technical term in architecture, of uncertain origin, according to Beekes "clearly Pre-Greek") + -ologist. It seems to have been used once, in The Athenaeum of Aug. 18, 1877, and then forgotten except in dictionaries.

pyrite (n.)

"metallic iron disulfide," occurring naturally in cubes and crystals, "fool's gold," 1550s, from Old French pyrite (12c.), from Latin pyrites, from Greek pyritēs lithos "stone of fire, flint" (so called because it glitters), from pyritēs "of or in fire," from pyr (genitive pyros) "fire" (from PIE root *paewr- "fire"). Related: Pyritic.

pyro-

before vowels pyr-, word-forming element form meaning "fire," from Greek pyr (genitive pyros) "fire, funeral fire," also symbolic of terrible things, rages, "rarely as an image of warmth and comfort" [Liddell & Scott], from PIE root *paewr- "fire." Pyriphlegethon, literally "fire-blazing," was one of the rivers of Hell.

pyroclastic (adj.)

in geology, "formed by volcanic agencies," especially in reference to fast-moving, dense, superheated surges of ash, gas and rock in a volcanic eruption; by 1862 in reference to the rocks that result; see pyro- "fire" + clastic, indicating "broken in pieces, fragments."

pyrogen (n.)

1858, as a proposed word for "electricity considered as a material substance possessing weight," from pyro- + -gen. Meaning "fever-producer, substance which, introduced into the blood, induces fever" is from 1896. Related: Pyrogenic. Greek pyrogenes meant "born in fire, wrought by fire" (compare pyrogenesis).

pyrogenesis (n.)

"the production of fire or heat," 1858; see pyro- + genesis. Pyrogenetic is attested from 1855 as "having the property of producing heat;" by 1838 in geology as "produced by heat."