pith

English

/pɪθ/, /paɪθ/

noun
Definitions
  • (botany) The soft, spongy substance in the center of the stems of many plants and trees.
  • The spongy interior substance of a feather or horn.
  • (anatomy) The spinal cord; the marrow.
  • (botany) The albedo of a citrus fruit.
  • (figuratively) The essential or vital part; force; energy; importance.
  • (figuratively) Power, strength, might.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English pith inherited from Old English piþa inherited from Proto-Germanic *piþô.

Origin

Proto-Germanic

*piþô

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms