Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pistil” come from?

Pistil comes from French pistil, from Latin pistillum, derived from the verb pinso meaning "to pound or crush," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European peys-.

pistil (English): A discrete organ in the center of a flower...

Definitions

  1. A discrete organ in the center of a flower...

Ancestry of “pistil”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchpistilpistil; stamen
2LatinpistillumA pestle
3Latinpīnsō—
4Spanishpiensoanimal feed; thought
5Latinpēnsum—
6Latinpendō—
7Proto-Italicpendōhang, put in a hanging position
8Proto-Indo-European(s)péndeti—
9Proto-Indo-European(s)pend-to stretch

Words derived from “pistil”

  • pistillate
  • pistilliferous
  • pistillody
  • pistillidium
  • pistillaceous
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)pend- →