Etymology

pique-devant

Today it means: A small beard trimmed to a sharp point. Full definition →

First used 16th–17th c.French pique
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The story

  1. French · borrowed frompique“pike, spade (cards)”
  2. English todaypique-devant

Probably coined in England, from French pique (“pike, spade (cards)”) or piquer (“to prick”) + devant (“in front”)

Words from the same roots

Frenchpique all →

piquepike-devantpiqué

First known use, by meaning

  • 16th–17th c. A small beard trimmed to a sharp point.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.