pip

pip · noun¹

1. Latin · derived frompītuīta“mucus, phlegm, head cold”
2. Latin · derived frompipita
3. Middle Dutch · derived frompip
4. Middle English · inherited frompippe
5. English todaypip

From Middle English pippe, from Middle Dutch pip, from post-classical Latin pipita, from Latin pītuīta (“mucus, phlegm, head cold”). Doublet of pituita.

pip · noun, verb²

1. Old French · derived frompepin“a seed”
2. Middle English · inherited frompipin
3. English todaypip

Apparently representing a shortened form of pippin, from Middle English pipin, from Old French pepin (“a seed”) (French pépin, q.v.).

pip · noun, verb³

Origin uncertain; perhaps related to Etymology 2, above.

pip · verb⁴

Imitative.

pip · noun⁵

Imitative.

pip · noun⁶

Abbreviation of percentage in point.

Pip · proper noun⁷

An allusion to the newspaper cartoon strip Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from the 15th c. Any of various respiratory diseases in birds, especially infectious coryza.