Word origins

• 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.
• paternostererA maker of rosary beads.
• 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.
• peniblepainstaking; assiduous
• 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.
• pettychapsAny of several species of small European passerine songbirds, including the willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), the chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus spp.), and the western Orphean warbler (Sylvia hortensis).
• phalangeSynonym of phalanx (“group of soldiers, people etc.”).
• PhilcoxA surname transferred from the given name.
• 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.
• philosopher's stoneA supposed substance able to turn base metals, such as lead or mercury, into gold or silver, also sometimes claimed to cure any illness (as panacea) or confer immortality (as elixir of life), among other functions.
• 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.
• piccalilliA yellow pickle relish made from cauliflower, vegetable marrow, and other vegetables, pickled with vinegar, salt, sugar, and spiced with mustard, turmeric, and other spices.
• piciereA poitrel, armor protecting a horse's chest.
• PickerillA surname from Middle English.
• 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.
• pillowbeerA pillowcase.
• 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.
• pistleSynonym of epistle.
• pitchyOf, pertaining to, or resembling pitch.
• placelessLacking a proper place.
• place of worshipA place, usually a building such as a church, mosque, synagogue or temple where believers can practise their faith.
• plashA small pool of standing water; a marshy pond; also, a puddle; (uncountable) marshy land; mire.
• plawTo boil; seethe.
• playfeerA playfellow; a playmate.
• play hob withmess with, cause trouble for
• playinglyIn play; without seriousness; playfully.
• playsteadAn area designated for recreation and play; a park.
• playstowA place for play; playground; park.
• pleachTo unite by interweaving, as (horticulture) branches of shrubs, trees, etc., to create a hedge; to interlock, to plash.
• pleadableThat may be pleaded
• pleasableThat may be pleased.
• pleckA plot of ground.
• plentilyIn a plentiful manner; with plenty.
• plentinessplentifulness; abundance
• plestorAn open space in a village where fairs or markets were held; became village greens.
• plethoricallyIn a plethoric manner: excessively, overabundantly.
• plightfulFull of risk or danger; risky; dangerous; perilous.
• plightlessDevoid of plight
• plightlyDangerously; with peril.
• plightyRelating to or indicating plight; misfortunate; dire; precarious; needy
• plonge leatherA type of leather that is particularly soft and pliable.
• ploughlandLand that has been or is meant to be ploughed.
• ploughshareThe cutting edge of a plough, typically a metal blade.
• plumb lineA cord with a weight attached, used to produce a vertical line; a plummet.