pest

pest · noun¹

1. Latin · derived frompestis
2. Middle French · borrowed frompeste“pestilence”
3. English todaypest

In the 16th century in the sense of "pestilence" and specifically bubonic plague from Middle French peste (“pestilence”) (whence French peste). The other meanings are recorded soon after. Ultimately from Latin pestis.

Pest · proper noun²

1. Old Church Slavonic · derived fromпещь“furnace, oven”
2. Hungarian · borrowed fromPest
3. English todayPest

From Hungarian Pest, ultimately from Old Church Slavonic пещь (peštĭ, “furnace, oven”). Compare German Ofen (“Buda”, literally “oven”).

Words from the same roots