pier
English
/pɪə/, /piɹ/
noun
Definitions
- A raised platform built from the shore out over water, supported on piles; used to secure, or provide access to shipping; a jetty.
- A similar structure, especially at a seaside resort, used to provide entertainment.
- (US) A structure that projects tangentially from the shoreline to accommodate ships; often double-sided.
- A structure supporting the junction between two spans of a bridge.
- (architecture) A rectangular pillar, or similar structure, that supports an arch, wall or roof, or the hinges of a gate.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English pere (peer, pear, bridge pillar) derived from Latin pera derived from pira (breakwater) derived from Latin *petricus, petra (stone, rock).
Origin
Latin
petra
Gloss
stone, rock
Concept
Semantic Field
Food and drink
Ontological Category
Classifier
Kanji
岩, 巌
Emoji
🗿 🪨
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- gate English
- gatepier English
- head English
- master English
- pear English
- petra English
- petrifact English
- petro- English
- pierage English
- piered English
- pierhead English
- pierless English
- pierlike English
- piermaster English
- pierside English
- pierwise English
- *petricus Latin
- lampreda Latin
- pera Latin
- petra Latin
- petro Latin
- petroleum Latin
- petrosus Latin
- πέτρα Latin
- pietra Italian
- petro- Dutch, Flemish
- piedra Spanish, Castilian
- πέτρα Ancient Greek
- πήρα Ancient Greek
- pedreiro Portuguese
- pere Old English
- noumpere Middle English
- parage Middle English
- pere Middle English
- pereles Middle English
- perer Middle English
- peres Middle English
- peretre Middle English
- perles Middle English
- pierre Old French
- pedra Catalan, Valencian
- piatră Romanian, Moldavian, Moldovan
- piyer Cebuano
- pedra Old Portuguese
- cheatrã Aromanian
- chiatrã Aromanian
- pèira Occitan
- piedra Asturian
- peer Scots
- piere Friulian
- piedra Old Spanish
- petra Sicilian
- pitra Dalmatian
- pedra Sardinian
- preda Sardinian
- preta Neapolitan
- pera Istriot
- piedra Mirandese
- pira ONF.
- pera ML