Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “slowpitch” come from?

slowpitch (English) comes from English pitch, from Middle English picche, from Old English pīc, from Proto-Germanic *pīk, from Latin pix, from Proto-Indo-European pik-, from Proto-Indo-European pi- — sap, juice.

slowpitch (English): A variety of softball, in which the ball may not...

Definitions

  1. A variety of softball, in which the ball may not...

Ancestry of “slowpitch”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpitchA sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees; sap;...
2Middle Englishpicche—
3Old Englishpīcpointed object, pick axe
4Proto-Germanic*pīk—
5Latinpixpitch, tar
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpik-to be angry; pitch; resin
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpi-sap, juice
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pi- →