Pith

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pɪθ/
• Rhymes: -ɪθ

Origin

Old English piþa, from Proto-Germanic *piþan (compare West Frisian piid 'pulp, kernel', Dutch peen 'carrot', Low German Peddik 'pulp, core'), from earlier *piþō (oblique *pittan). Doublet of pit. The verb meaning "to kill by cutting or piercing the spinal cord" is attested 1805.

Full definition of pith

Noun

1. The soft spongy substance in the center of the stems of many plants and trees.
2. The spongy interior substance of a feather.
3. The spinal cord; the marrow.
4. (figuratively) The essential or vital part.The pith of my idea is truth.
• Shakespeareenterprises of great pith and moment

Synonyms

• (essential or necessary part) core, essence, general tenor, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, kernel, marrow, meat, nitty-gritty, nub, quintessence, soul, spirit, stuff, substance

Related terms

• pith helmet
• pithy

Verb

1. (transitive) To extract the pith from (a plant stem or tree).
2. (transitive) To kill (especially cattle or laboratory animals) by cutting or piercing the spinal cord.