Where does “pitch” come from?

Pitch comes from Middle English picche, derived from Middle English pikken, which traces to Latin pix, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pik- and pi-.

pitch (English): A sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees; sap;...

Definitions

  1. A sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees; sap;...

Ancestry of “pitch”, step by step

pitch traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English picche

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishpicche—
2Old Englishpīcpointed object, pick axe
3Proto-Germanic*pīk—
4Latinpixpitch, tar
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpik-to be angry; pitch; resin
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpi-sap, juice

via Middle English picchen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishpicchen—
2Middle EnglishpikkenAlternative form of piken; to pick, pierce; to...
3Old Englishpiccian—
4Proto-West Germanicpikkōnto peck, strike
5Proto-Germanicpikkōnąto pick, peck, prick
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbew-"low-pitch humming noise"

Words derived from “pitch”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pi- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pik- →Every word from Latin pix →