Word origins

• oxheadA fool; a blockhead.
• oxherdOne who herds oxen.
• oxlipA plant of species Primula elatior, similar to cowslip (Primula veris) but with larger, pale yellow flowers.
• oxterThe armpit.
• oxtongueBeef tongue (a foodstuff).
• oxymelA mixture of honey, water, and vinegar, boiled to a syrup, sometimes mixed with herbs or spices.
• oyer and terminerA commission under which a court is empowered to hear and determine a criminal case.
• paddock-stoolA toadstool.
• padstooltoadstool
• painfulnessThe state or quality of being painful, of causing pain.
• paintressA female painter.
• paintureThe art of painting.
• pair of pincersA gripping tool, pivoted like a pair of scissors, but with blunt jaws.
• pair of scissorsA tool used for cutting thin material, consisting of two crossing blades attached at a pivot point in such a way that the blades slide across each other when the handles are closed
• palliardA beggar or vagrant, especially a professional one; (earlier especially) a lecher.
• palm treeA tree of the family Arecaceae usually characterised by having a single stem or trunk, directly from which sprout several leaves or fronds giving a shape like an outstretched hand.
• palterTo talk insincerely; to prevaricate or equivocate in speech or actions.
• paltockA type of short doublet or tunic with sleeves, sometimes worn beneath armour.
• paludeA marsh or swamp.
• panfulAs much as a pan will hold.
• pantlerThe servant in charge of the bread and the pantry in a great house.
• pantofleA slipper.
• papal bullA type of document or edict from the Pope.
• parageLineage, parentage; rank, especially as high or noble.
• paraphA flourish made after or below one's signature, originally to prevent forgery.
• paraventureperadventure; perchance
• parboilTo boil food briefly so that it is partly cooked.
• parcenerA coheir, a coparcener
• parcloseA partition that closes off part of a building; especially one that separates an altar or chapel from the rest of a church.
• pardieBy God!
• pargetTo coat with gypsum; to plaster, for example walls, or the interior of flues.
• parietaryAny of several species of Parietaria.
• parish churchA church that serves as the religious centre of a parish; the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches.
• parish priestThe main priest serving a parish.
• parrockAn enclosed area of land; a small field or a paddock.
• part of speechA linguistic category of words sharing syntactic or morphological behaviour and semantic properties, such as noun or verb.
• passionala book describing sufferings of martyrs
• passionaryA book in which the sufferings of saints and martyrs are described
• pastilleA flavoured candy or sweet, often round and somewhat flat in shape.
• pasturableFit for pasture.
• paterfamiliasA man who is the head of a household, family or tribe.
• pattenerpattenmaker
• pattenmakerA manufacturer of pattens.
• pauldronA component of plate armor that protects the shoulder, generally covering more than a spaulder, also protecting the armpit and overlapping with other armor over the upper chest and back.
• PaulianSynonym of Pauline (“of or relating to Paul the Apostle or his writings”).
• paunceA piece of armour which covers the abdomen or lower body.
• pavisMost usually, a very large shield fitted with a stand, like a small moveable wall, carried in front to protect all or most of the bearer's body that could be positioned independently of the user, such as a crossbowman, often with a projecting ridge running vertically down the center. However, smaller, more standard shield types were also termed as such, with the central verticle ridge as a defining feature.
• pawtenerA bag or pouch; purse, scrip.
• paxwaxA strong ligament of the back of the neck in quadrupeds, connecting the back of the skull with dorsal spines of the cervical vertebrae; the nuchal ligament.
• paynimA pagan or heathen, especially a Muslim, or a Jew.
• peahenA female peafowl.
• pear treeA tree of the genus Pyrus, which bears the pears as fruits.
• peascodThe legume or pericarp, or the pod, of the pea.
• pebblestoneA pebble.
• peevishnessThe state of being peevish.
• peiseTo weigh or measure the weight of; to poise.
• pelerinA pilgrim.
• pennoncelA small pennon (a thin flag or streamer).
• penny-grassyellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor or Rhinanthus major (syn. Rhinanthus crista-galli)).
• penticeAn extension of a building's roof and the protected area beneath.
• peoplishCommon, vulgar.
• per-In verbs: denoting the sense "through", as in perforate.
• perambulationA survey, a tour; an instance of walking around.
• percasePerchance; perhaps.
• percherOne who fishes for perch.
• perdurabilityThe state of being perdurable.
• perdurableVery durable; long-lasting.
• perdurablenessThe quality of being perdurable.
• perdurablyin a perdurable manner
• perdurationlong endurance, lastingness
• peregalFully equal.
• peregrinationA person's life regarded as a temporary stay on earth and a journey to the afterlife.
• perpendicleSomething that hangs down, especially straight down, such as a plumb line.
• perseverantEnduring; persistent, resistant.
• perseverantlyWith perseverance; persistently.
• Peter's penceThe alms-fee.
• petit juryA regular trial jury, assembled to determine criminal or civil liability.
• phalangeSynonym of phalanx (“group of soldiers, people etc.”).
• PhillpotA surname transferred from the given name.
• PhillpotsA surname transferred from the given name.
• PhillpottA surname transferred from the given name.
• PhillpottsA surname transferred from the given name.
• PhilpotsA surname transferred from the given name.
• PhilpottsA surname transferred from the given name.
• PhipsA surname transferred from the given name.
• phthisicA wasting illness of the lungs, such as asthma or tuberculosis; consumption; phthisis.
• piciereA poitrel, armor protecting a horse's chest.
• pickpurseSomeone who steals purses, or money from purses.
• pie houseA shop that sells pies.
• piemakerA person who makes pies.
• piepowderChiefly in court of piepowders, etc. (sense 2): a traveller, particularly one on foot; a wayfarer; specifically, a travelling merchant.
• pigsnyAn Elizabethan term of endearment.
• pilcrowA symbol designating the beginning of a new paragraph.
• pillicockA penis.
• pilliwinksA torture device for squeezing the fingers; a thumbscrew.
• pine nutThe edible seed of any of several species of evergreen pine, especially Pinus pinea, Pinus cembra, and Pinus cembroides.
• pine treeAny coniferous tree in the genus Pinus
• PinvinA village and civil parish in Wychavon district, Worcestershire, England, to the north of Pershore (OS grid ref SO9548).
• pisaneA collar or gorget of mail (or, rarely, plate), protecting the neck and upper chest; a standard.
• pismireAn ant.