pick

pick
\ \ English has two distinct words pick. The verb [15], which originally meant ‘pierce’ (a sense which survives in ‘pick holes in’), appears to come via Old French piquer from a Vulgar Latin *piccāreprick, pierce’. Picket [17], which originally meant ‘pointed stake’, is probably derived from the same source (its modern sense ‘guard’, which emerged in the 18th century, comes from the practice of soldiers tying their horses to stakes). Pique [16] is a slightly later borrowing from French. Picksharp implement’ [14] (as in toothpick) is probably related to Old English pīcpointed object’, source of English pikespear’. It also lies behind English peak. In view of their close semantic similarity, it seems likely that the two picks share a common ancestor, which was no doubt responsible also for Old French picoispickaxe’, altered in English, under the influence of axe, to pickaxe [15].
\ \ Cf.PICKET, PIQUE; PEAK, PIKE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • pick-up — [ pikɶp ] n. m. inv. • 1928; mot angl. (1867), de to pick up « ramasser, recueillir » ♦ Anglic. 1 ♦ Techn. Dispositif servant à recueillir et transformer en courant variable des vibrations sonores enregistrées sur disques. ⇒ lecteur. Cour. Bras,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • pick — Ⅰ. pick [1] ► VERB 1) (often pick up) take hold of and move. 2) remove (a flower or fruit) from where it is growing. 3) choose from a number of alternatives. 4) remove unwanted matter from (one s nose or teeth) with a finger or a pointed… …   English terms dictionary

  • Pick — (p[i^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Picked} (p[i^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Picking}.] [OE. picken, pikken, to prick, peck; akin to Icel. pikka, Sw. picka, Dan. pikke, D. pikken, G. picken, F. piquer, W. pigo. Cf. {Peck}, v., {Pike}, {Pitch} to throw.] 1 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pick — pick1 [pik] vt. [ME pykken, var. of picchen, to PITCH2] Weaving to throw (a shuttle) n. 1. one passage or throw of the shuttle of a loom 2. one of the weft threads, or filling yarns pick2 [pik] n. [ …   English World dictionary

  • pick — [pɪk] verb pick up phrasal verb 1. [intransitive] if business or trade picks up, it improves 2. [transitive] pick something → up informal to buy something, especially for a low price: • Homes here can be picked up for as little as £30,000 …   Financial and business terms

  • pick up — {v.} 1. To take up; lift. * /During the morning Mrs. Carter picked up sticks in the yard./ 2. {informal} To pay for someone else. * /After lunch, in the restaurant, Uncle Bob picked up the check./ 3. To take on or away; receive; get. * /At the… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • pick up — {v.} 1. To take up; lift. * /During the morning Mrs. Carter picked up sticks in the yard./ 2. {informal} To pay for someone else. * /After lunch, in the restaurant, Uncle Bob picked up the check./ 3. To take on or away; receive; get. * /At the… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Pick — Pick, n. [F. pic a pickax, a pick. See {Pick}, and cf. {Pike}.] 1. A sharp pointed tool for picking; often used in composition; as, a toothpick; a picklock. [1913 Webster] 2. (Mining & Mech.) A heavy iron tool, curved and sometimes pointed at… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pick-up — auch: Pick|up 〈[ ʌ̣p] m. 6〉 1. Tonabnehmer 2. 〈Kfz〉 Personenkraftwagen, bei dem sich anstelle der Rücksitze eine offene Ladefläche befindet [<engl. pick up „aufnehmen“] * * * Pick up [pɪk |ap , engl.: pɪkʌp ], der; s, s [engl. pick up, zu: to… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • pick-up — ♦♦♦ pick ups also pickup 1) N COUNT A pick up or a pick up truck is a small truck with low sides that can be easily loaded and unloaded. 2) N SING: usu N in n A pick up in trade or in a country s economy is an improvement in it. ...a pick up in… …   English dictionary

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