pile English · revision 7378

+ Word Origins notes that three different Latin words lie behind three kinds of pile: a heap, from pila, pillar; a stake, from pilum, javelin; and the nap of cloth, from pilus, hair.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /paɪl/^(Wiktionary)

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+ {{homograph|1|heap}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1410|origins=la pila}}

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|pile|t=a heap, a stack]] and directly [[bor|la|pila|t=a pillar; stone barrier, pier]] (see [[pillar]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) The sense development in Latin would have been from a harbour wall of stones to something heaped up.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A heap or stack: about 1410 in Barnhart, the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle English pile could also mean a pillar or pier of a bridge (mid-15th century).^(Etymonline) The verb, to heap up, is from about 1400.^(Etymonline) A large building, often ''a pile'', may be from the same word, or from a separate Middle English pile, a castle or tower (late 14th century), which the OED treats as of doubtful origin.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) ''Make one's pile'', to make a fortune, is a later use.^(Cresswell 2021) A nuclear reactor was called an atomic pile in the 20th century.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – a castle, tower.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – to heap up (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1410 – a heap.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – a pier.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A heap of things laid on top of one another.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A large amount: ''piles of money''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A large, imposing building.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To place things one on top of another; to heap.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(pile in, into)'' To move in a disorganized crowd.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pile-up]]

+ * [[stockpile]]

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+ {{homograph|2|stake, post}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1000|origins=la pilum}}

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is late Old English [[m|ang|pīl|t=sharp stake; arrow, dart]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) an early borrowing of Latin [[m|la|pilum|t=the heavy javelin of the Roman foot soldier]], also the source of German [[m|de|Pfeil|t=arrow]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The Latin word is of uncertain origin;^(Etymonline) De Vaan finds its identification with pilum, pestle, defensible.^(Etymonline)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A dart or shaft: before 1000 in the OED;^(OED 1989) a pointed stake, Old English.^(Etymonline)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A timber or stake driven into the ground is from before 1338, in Mannyng's chronicle.^(Barnhart 1988) In engineering, a heavy beam driven into the soil to support a structure, the main modern sense, follows.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The pointed head of a staff or arrow is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1000 – a dart; a stake.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1338 – a stake driven into the ground.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A heavy post of timber, concrete or steel driven into the ground to support a building or bridge.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

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+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pile driver]]

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+ {{homograph|3|nap of a fabric}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1350|origins=la pilus}}

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from Anglo-French pyle or Middle Dutch [[m|dum|pijl]], both from Latin [[m|la|pilus|t=a hair]], a word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline notes that phonology rules out transmission through Old French peil, poil.^(Etymonline)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Downy plumage: the mid-14th century in Etymonline, about 1350 in Barnhart;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) fine, soft hair, the late 15th century.^(Etymonline)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The soft, raised surface of a fabric such as velvet or a carpet is from the 1560s.^(Etymonline)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1350 – plumage.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – soft hair.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – the nap of cloth.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The soft, raised surface of a carpet or of fabric such as velvet, made of cut or looped threads.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pillar]]

+ * [[pilaster]]

+ * [[compile]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Piles'', haemorrhoids, is treated as a separate word, usually plural.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}