Etymology Explorer › English

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

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

Words derived from “pitch”

  • pitcher
  • pitching
  • pitchman
  • pitchstone
  • pitchout
  • pitcherful
  • multipitch
  • pitcheth
  • pitchless
  • pitchpole
  • fastpitch
  • pitchlike
  • pitchbook
  • pitchback
  • repitch
  • pitchest
  • pitchwoman
  • slowpitch
  • pitchside
  • nonpitcher
  • nonpitching
  • overpitch
  • outpitch
  • pitchcapping
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pi- →