Where does “pep” come from?
Pep is a back-formation from pepper, which comes from Middle English piper, Old English piper, Latin piper, Ancient Greek πέπερι, and Sanskrit पिप्पलि, ultimately from Sanskrit पिप्पल meaning the pepper plant.
pep (English): To inject with energy and enthusiasm; Energy,...
Definitions
- To inject with energy and enthusiasm; Energy,...
Ancestry of “pep”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | pepper | A plant of the family Piperaceae; A spice... |
| 2 | Middle English | peper | pepper; The plant that produces the fruit... |
| 3 | Old English | piper | Alternative form of pipor |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | piper | — |
| 5 | Latin | piper | pepper |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | πέπερι | pepper; black pepper |
| 7 | Sanskrit | पिप्पलि | berry; peppercorn; long pepper |
| 8 | Sanskrit | पिप्पल | berry; the sacred fig, "Ficus religiosa"; a kind... |