Word origins

• pfropfschizophrenieSchizophrenia in individuals with premorbid cognitive impairment.
• pfuian exclamation indicating disagreement or rejection of an argument; contempt
• phaleristicsThe study of orders, fraternity, and award items.
• phasinAny of a family of surface proteins associated with bacterial granules.
• Phrygian capA soft, close-fitting conical cap with the top bent forward, represented in Greek and Roman art as worn by ancient Phrygians, and later associated with the Roman liberty cap.
• phyllophyteA plant characterized as structurally based upon or possessing true leaves.
• phylogenesisEvolutionary development of a species.
• physiogenyThe study of the evolution of functions and vital activities by observing the supposed ontogenic recapitulation of that phylogeny.
• physiophylyThe direct study of the evolution of functions and vital activities rather than observation of its supposed ontogenic recapitulation.
• phytoequivalenceA physiological equivalence between the effects of two herbal extracts, the efficacy of one of which has been clinically demonstrated.
• pickelhaubeA spiked helmet worn by German troops, especially during the First World War.
• PieechA surname.
• pietisticpertaining to pietism (Lutheran spiritual movement)
• PietzschA surname from German.
• pig dogA dog bred to hunt wild pigs, typically based on breeds such as Staffordshire Terrier and English Bull Terrier.
• pingleA small piece of enclosed ground.
• PinkstaffA surname from German.
• PinnowA surname from German.
• pitchblendeNaturally-occurring uranium oxide, a variety of the mineral uraninite.
• PlackeA surname from German.
• placodermA member of an extinct paraphyletic class (†Placodermi) of jawed fish with armored heads and thoraces; the group lived during the Silurian and Devonian periods.
• plagioniteA monoclinic-prismatic mineral containing antimony, lead, and sulfur.
• plankterA single organism of plankton.
• PlattdeutschLow German
• PlaugherA surname from German.
• plerocercoidAn unsegmented worm-like larval form of certain tapeworms which develops from the procercoid.
• pleromeThe central portion of the apical meristem in a growing plant root or stem which, according to the histogen theory, gives rise to the endodermis and stele.
• PlessingerA surname from German.
• PlessnerA surname from German.
• PletzA surname from German.
• PlodarischSynonym of Sappadino.
• PloetzA surname from German.
• PlossA surname from German.
• pluderhoseShort, baggy trousers that are gathered tightly at the bottom.
• PoellnitzA surname from German.
• PokrentA village in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.
• PolonisticsPolish studies.
• polygonbodenpolygonal patches of ground, found especially in frozen environments.
• polyhaliteA mineral usually occurring in fibrous masses, of a brick-red color, being tinged with iron, and consisting chiefly of the sulphates of lime, magnesia, and soda.
• PongratzA surname from German.
• posaunetrombone
• PottebaumA surname from German.
• power politicsA form of international relations in which sovereign entities protect their own interests by threatening one another with military, economic or political aggression.
• powidlA fruit spread prepared by cooking zwetschge plums, similar to jam but traditionally made in Central Europe without additional sweeteners or gelling agents.
• prägnanzIn Gestalt psychology, the tendency for one to perceive complex things in the "best" (simplest) form, because it requires the least cognitive effort.
• pralltrillerA melodic embellishment consisting of the quick alternation of a principal tone with an auxiliary tone above it, usually the next in the scale.
• PrechtA surname from German.
• precursor tipThe reduced upper leaf zone found on many monocotyledons that usually takes the form of a cylindrical extension at the apex of the leaf.
• Pre-GreekOf or relating to such a language or its speakers.
• PrellwitzA surname from German.
• presbytinnitusTinnitus which accompanies presbycusis.
• presentiationThe act of making something present to consciousness that is not originally given; a synonym of presentification; an intuitive consciousness that renders something co-present or represented.
• PressburgFormer name of Bratislava: the capital city of Slovakia.
• PreusserA surname from German.
• PriebusA surname from German.
• primal sceneIn Freudian theory, the first time a child witnesses (and understands) his or her parents copulating.
• prince-primateThe archbishop of Esztergom in Hungary.
• PrinkeyA surname.
• prinzregententorteA Bavarian torte having thin layers of sponge cake separated by chocolate buttercream, topped with apricot jam and covered in a dark chocolate glaze.
• privat-docentA lecturer who may teach without supervision by a professor
• privatdozentIn some European countries, an academic who holds all formal qualifications (doctorate and habilitation) to become a tenured university professor.
• private docentAn associate professor (in a university) who has obtained a doctorate, written a habilitation thesis and given a lecture in the hope of becoming a full professor.
• prodigiosinA red pigment produced by certain bacteria.
• productive forcesThe combination of means of labour and labour power which together with certain relations of production form a historically specific mode of production.
• ProeselA surname from German.
• ProppsA surname from German.
• prositToast to indicate one is drinking to someone's, or to each other's, health.
• prosopagnosiaA form of visual agnosia characterized by difficulty with face recognition despite intact low-level visual processing.
• protargolSilver proteinate, originally used as an antiseptic and later for staining in electron microscopy.
• ProtzmanA surname from German.
• psammophyteAny plant which thrives in sandy conditions.
• pseudorationalismA school of thought that believes that all actions can be subject to rational analysis
• psychiaterA psychiatrist.
• psychoidAn innate physical reaction to a psychological stimulus.
• psychological momentThe best time to do something, when those involved are in the most workable state of mind.
• puddle-houndSynonym of poodle.
• PufahlA surname from German.
• PulvermacherA surname from German.
• punctationA preliminary treaty or contract.
• punctiliarOccurring at a definite and particular point in time.
• PuthA surname.
• putschistOne who participates in a putsch.
• pyknicshort and stout; endomorphic
• pyramidonAn organ stop having wooden pipes in the form of an inverted pyramid, giving very deep notes somewhat like those of a stopped diapason.
• Pyramid TextsA corpus of ancient Egyptian funerary texts of the Old Kingdom consisting of spells to assist the journey of the dead king into the afterlife, carved on pyramid walls and sarcophagi.
• pyronineAny of a group of xanthene dyes used to stain RNA, especially in electrophoresis.
• PysherA surname from German.
• quadratfreiSynonym of squarefree.
• qualitative leapA qualitative, non-gradual change resulting from a quantitatively minor change.
• quarlA medusa or jellyfish.
• quarter noteA musical note one beat long in 4/4 time.
• quatschNonsense, rubbish, foolish speech or writing.
• QuenzerA surname from German.
• Q-waveSynonym of Love wave.
• RaapA surname.
• RaatzA surname from German.
• RabbermannA surname from German.
• RaboldA surname from German.
• race feelingLove of one's own race, or hatred of other races.
• racial hygieneAn approach to eugenics in Nazi ideology which sought to prevent the supposed contamination of races deemed to be superior from miscegenation.