Word origins

• pass-paroleAn order passed from the front to the rear by word of mouth.
• pasteuriseTo heat food for the purpose of killing harmful organisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, molds, and yeasts.
• pasteurizeTo heat food for the purpose of killing harmful organisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, molds, and yeasts.
• pastillageA kind of edible modelling paste used to make elaborate decorative confectionery for cakes etc.
• pastourelleA type of poetry concerning the romance of a shepherdess.
• pataphysicianA person involved in pataphysics.
• pataphysicsAn absurdist philosophy or pseudoscience studying things "beyond" metaphysics.
• pâtéA finely-ground paste of meat, fish or vegetables, sometimes with the addition of alcohol.
• pâte briséeA form of shortcrust pastry made with butter instead of lard or shortening.
• pâté chinoisA French-Canadian dish of layered ground beef, sweetcorn and mashed potatoes, similar to shepherd's pie.
• pâté de foie grasA pâté of fat goose liver; the lowest-grade preparation of foie gras.
• pâte fermentéeA pre-ferment made by preserving a portion of dough from an earlier batch.
• pate feuilleteeSynonym of puff pastry.
• pâte-sur-pâteA method of porcelain decoration in which a relief design is created on an unfired, unglazed body by applying successive layers of slip (liquid clay) with a brush, and then carving it to produce fine detail, before the piece is fired.
• patineA plate.
• patissierpastry chef
• pâtissièreA female pastry chef.
• PatriotePatriot (one of the devolution-of-power supporters in Lower Canada during the Canadian Rebellions of 1837-1838 (Patriots' War))
• patronneA woman who is the owner (or wife of an owner) of a business such as a bar or restaurant
• paupietteA thin slice of meat or fish wrapped around a stuffing then fried, baked or braised
• paysagistAn artist who paints landscapes.
• Pays de la LoireAn administrative region of France, near Brittany.
• peach melbaA classic French dessert, made from peaches and raspberry sauce accompanied with vanilla ice cream.
• peau d'orangeHuman skin with the appearance and dimpled texture of an orange peel, associated with some medical conditions.
• -pedSuffix indicating an organism or person with a specified number or type of feet.
• pedalierpedalboard (organ keyboard)
• pederastA man who is engaged in an erotic relationship with an adolescent boy; a practitioner of pederasty.
• PelagieA female given name
• pelerineA kind of short cape or covering for the shoulders, associated especially with medieval pilgrims (of any gender).
• pelisseA fur-lined robe or cloak, especially as part of a uniform.
• PelletanA surname from French.
• PellicierA surname from French.
• PellissierA surname from French.
• pell-mellHasty and uncontrolled.
• PelotA surname.
• pelureA crisp, hard, thin paper, sometimes used for postage stamps.
• Pend d'OreilleA member of the indigenous peoples of the Northwest Plateau.
• pendeloqueA drop-shaped diamond or other gem used as a pendant; also, a piece of jewellery in pendant form.
• pendentiveThe concave triangular sections of vaulting that provide the transition between a dome and the square base on which it is set and transfer the weight of the dome.
• penduleA pendulum.
• PenelopegateThe Fillon affair, a political scandal involving improper employment of the family of French politician François Fillon.
• penséeA thought.
• PequignotA surname from French.
• pequinA small, hot, citrusy and nutty chili pepper cultivar.
• percalineA fine kind of French cotton goods, usually of one colour.
• percuteurA medical instrument for therapeutic or diagnostic percussion.
• perdricideSomeone who kills partridges.
• pèreA priest of the Roman Catholic Church, especially a French one. Also used as a title preceding the name of such a priest.
• perfumatoryOf, relating to, or emitting perfume.
• PérigordA black truffle.
• PérillosAn abandoned village in Pyrénées-Orientales department, France.
• perloirAn instrument for making bead-shaped ornaments.
• PerneauA surname from French.
• PerrauA surname from French.
• PerrautA surname from French.
• PerrodinA surname from French.
• perruquierA maker of perukes or wigs.
• persiennePrinted calico or similar material.
• persiflageGood-natured banter; raillery.
• persiflateTo engage in persiflage; to banter.
• persilladeA French sauce of chopped parsley, garlic, and sometimes herbs, oil, and vinegar.
• PerusseA surname from French.
• pétanqueA form of boules originating from the south of France.
• pet-en-l'airA type of short sack-back.
• pétillantOf wine, cider, etc.: sparkling, fizzy.
• pétillant naturelA type of sparkling wine which is fermented in sealed containers at cold temperatures.
• PetionA surname from French.
• petite amieA girlfriend.
• petite bourgeoisieThe lower middle class.
• petit finalSynonym of small final.
• petit fourA small cake generally eaten at the end of a meal or served as part of a large buffet.
• petit gâteauA French chocolate dessert, consisting of a small cake with a crunchy shell and a creamy filling.
• petit malA form of epilepsy where the seizures are characterized as minor, the person becomes vacant or unaware, but not involving spasms and unconsciousness. These seizures are usually brief, lasting up to 30 seconds, and may include twitching. A formal medical term would be absence seizures.
• petit poisA type of small pea.
• petits-chevauxA gambling game played with a mechanical device consisting of a board perforated with a number of concentric circular slits, in which revolve, each independently on its own axis, figures of jockeys on horseback, distinguished by numbers or colors.
• petroleurOne who lights fires with petrol, especially (historical) a revolutionary who attacked public buildings in this way in Paris in 1871.
• petty bourgeoisieSynonym of petite bourgeoisie.
• petunTobacco, especially in the context of its early acquisition from Native Americans by the French.
• petunseRock rich in feldspar and/or mica, mixed with kaolin to create hard-paste pottery.
• PeyraudA village in Ardèche department, France.
• PeyrehoradeA town in Landes department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
• phalangeSynonym of phalanx (“group of soldiers, people etc.”).
• phantasmagoryphantasmagoria
• PharamondThe legendary first king of the Franks.
• phenakistoscopeAn early animation device consisting of a disc or drum which rotated, showing successive images through slits, often via a mirror, thus producing the illusion of motion.
• PhilipponA surname from French.
• PhilippotA surname from French.
• PhilippouA surname from Occitan.
• PhilisA surname.
• PhilocteteA surname from French.
• pholeriteSynonym of kaolinite.
• -phonysound or its production
• phospheneA sensation of lights induced by mechanical, electrical, or magnetic stimulation (rather than optical) of the retina or visual cortex, or by random firing of cells in the visual system.
• phosphurephosphide
• phylacterSynonym of phylactery.
• physiocratAny of a group of economists in 18th-century France who believed that the government should not seek to influence the operation of natural economic laws.
• piafferA dressage movement in which a horse trots in a stationary position while using high lifting of the legs.
• pianisteA female pianist.
• picquetA surname from French.
• pièce de convictionAn incriminating exhibit shown as evidence in a criminal case.