A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

plutonium --- 1942, from Pluto, the planet (see Pluto), the element named on suggestion of Seaborg and Wahl because it follows neptunium in the periodic table as Pluto follows Neptune in the Solar System.

pluvial --- 1656, "of or pertaining to rain," from Fr. pluvial (12c.), from L. pluvialis "pertaining to rain," from (aqua) pluvia "rain (water)," from fem. of pluvius "rainy," from plovere "to rain," from PIE base *pleu- "to flow, to swim" (cf. Skt. plavate "navigates, swims;" Gk. plynein "to wash," plein "to navigate;" O.E. flowan "to flow").

ply (n.) --- layer, 1470, from M.Fr. pli "a fold" (13c.), from O.Fr. ploi (12c.), from stem of ployer (later pleier) "to bend, to fold," from L. plicare "to fold, lay" see ply (v.)). Now mainly in plywood (1907), which is called that because the layers are so arranged that the grain of one runs at right angles to that of the next.

ply (v.) --- work with, use, c.1300, shortened form of applien "join to, apply," from O.Fr. aplier, from L. applicare "to attach, apply," from op- "on" + plicare "to lay, fold, twist," from PIE base *plek- "to plait, twist" (cf. Gk. plekein "to plait," L. plectere "to plait, braid, intertwine," O.C.S. plesti "to braid, plait, twist," Goth. flahta "braid"). Sense of "travel regularly" is first 1803.

pneumatic --- 1659, from L. pneumaticus "of the wind, belonging to the air," from Gk. pneumatikos, from pneuma (gen. pneumatos) "wind," also "breath," from pnein "to blow, to breathe," from PIE base *pneu- "to breathe," of imitative origin.

pneumonia --- 1603, from Mod.L., from Gk. pneumonia "inflammation of the lungs," from pneumon (gen. pneumonos) "lung," altered from pleumon "lung," lit. "floater," from PIE *pleu- "to flow, to swim" (see pulmonary). Alteration in Gk. perhaps by influence of pnein "to breathe."

Po --- large river in northern Italy, from L. Padus, a name of Celtic origin.

poach (1) --- steal game, 1528, "to push, poke," from M.Fr. pocher "to thrust, poke," from O.Fr. pochier "poke out, gouge," from a Gmc. source (cf. M.H.G. puchen "to pound, beat, knock") related to poke (v.). Sense of "trespass for the sake of stealing" is first attested 1611, perhaps via notion of "thrusting" oneself onto another's property.

poach (2) --- cook in liquid, c.1430, from O.Fr. poché, pp. of pochier (12c.), lit. "put into a pocket" (as the white of an egg forms a pocket for the yolk), from poche "bag, pocket," from Frank. *pokka "bag," from Gmc. *puk- (see poke (n.)).

Pocahontas --- (c. 1595–1617), daughter of Algonquian leader Powhatan, the name is said to be Algonquian Pokachantesu "she is playful."

pock --- O.E. pocc "pustule," from P.Gmc. *puh(h)- "to swell up, blow up" (cf. Du. pok, Low Ger. poche), from PIE base *bhu- "to swell, to blow." The plural form, M.E. pokkes, is the source of pox, which since c.1325 has been used in the sense "disease characterized by pocks." The verb meaning "to disfigure with pits or pocks" is attested from 1841. Pock-mark is recorded from 1673 as a noun, 1756 as a verb.

pocket --- 1210, "bag, sack," from Anglo-Fr. pokete (13c.), dim. of O.N.Fr. poque "bag," from Frank. *pokka "bag," from Gmc. *puk- (see poke (n.)). Meaning "small bag worn on the person, especially one sewn into a garment" is from c.1430. Mining sense is attested from 1850; military sense of "area held by troops surrounded by the enemy" is from 1918. The verb, with implications of dishonesty, is from 1637. Pocket-book (1617) was originally "a book-like case for papers, etc.;" meaning "a woman's purse" is from 1816. Pocket-knife is first recorded 1727; pocket-money is attested from 1632.

poco --- in musical directions, "a little, slightly," 1724, from It., from L. paucus (see paucity).

Pocono --- mountain range and region in eastern Pennsylvania, from Delaware (Algonquian), perhaps Pocohanne "stream between mountains."

pod (1) --- seed of beans, 1688, of uncertain origin; found earlier in podware "seed of legumes, seed grain" (1467), which had a parallel form codware "husked or seeded plants" (1398), related to cod "husk of seeded plants," which was in O.E. Pod people (1956) is from movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," based on novel by Jack Finney.

pod (2) --- herd of whales or seals, 1827, Amer.Eng., of unknown origin.

podgy --- 1846, later collateral form of pudgy (q.v.).

podiatry --- 1914, formed from Gk. pod-, stem of pous "foot" (see foot) + iatreia "healing," from iatros "physician." An attempt to supplant chiropody, chiropodist (the latter from 1785) and distance the practice from the popular impression of unskilled corn-cutters. The National Association of Chiropodists changed its name to American Podiatry Association 1958.

podium --- 1743, "raised platform around an ancient arena," also "projecting base of a pedestal," from L. podium "raised platform," from Gk. podion "foot of a vase," dim. of pous (gen. podos) "foot" (see foot). Meaning "raised platform at the front of a hall or stage" is from 1947.

Podunk --- legendary small town, 1846, originally the name of a small group of Indians who lived around the Podunk River in Connecticut; the tribe name is in colonial records from 1656 (as Potunck), from southern New England Algonquian (Mohegan or Massachusetts) Potunk, perhaps an alteration of ptukohke "neck, corner of land;" or, on another authority, from pautaunke, from pot- "to sink" + locative suffix -unk, thus "a boggy place." Its popularity as the name of a typical (if mythical) U.S. small town dates from a series of witty "Letters from Podunk" which ran in the "Buffalo Daily National Pilot" newspaper beginning Jan. 5, 1846.

poem --- 1548 (replacing poesy, q.v.), from M.Fr. poème (14c.), from L. poema "verse, poetry," from Gk. poema "thing made or created, fiction, poetical work," from poein "to make or compose" (see poet).

poesy --- c.1300, from O.Fr. poesie, from V.L. poesia, from L. poesis "poetry," from Gk. poesis "composition, poetry," from poein "to make or compose" (see poet).

poet --- c.1300, from O.Fr. poete (12c.), from L. poeta "poet, author," from Gk. poetes "maker, author, poet," from poein "to make or compose," from PIE *kwoiwo- "making," from base *qwei- "to make" (cf. Skt. cinoti "heaping up, piling up," O.C.S. cinu "act, deed, order"). Replaced O.E. scop (which survives in scoff). Used in 14c., as in classical langs., for all sorts of writers or composers of works of literature.

poetaster --- 1599, from M.Fr. poetastre (1554), from L. poeta (poet) + -aster, diminutive (pejorative) suffix.

poetic --- 1530, from M.Fr. poetique, from L. poeticus, from Gk. poietikos "pertaining to poetry," lit. "creative, productive," from poietos "made," verbal adj. of poiein "to make" (see poet). Poetic justice "ideal justice as portrayed in plays and stories" is from 1679.

poetry --- c.1384, from O.Fr. poetrie (13c.), from M.L. poetria (c.650), from L. poeta (see poet). In classical L., poetria meant "poetess." Eng. lacks a true verb form in this group of words, though poeticize (1804), poetize (1581, from Fr. poétiser), and poetrize (1602) all have been tried.

pogo stick --- 1921, of uncertain etymology. Pogo as a leaping style of punk dance is attested from 1977.

pogrom --- 1882, from Yiddish pogrom, from Rus. pogromu "devastation, destruction," from po- "by, through" + gromu "thunder, roar," from PIE imitative base *ghrem- (see grim).

poi --- 1823, from Hawaiian poi "food made from taro root."

poignant --- c.1386, "painful to physical or mental feeling," from O.Fr. poignant (13c.), prp. of poindre "to prick, sting," from L. pungere "to prick" (see pungent).

poinsettia --- 1836, Mod.L. genus name, in allusion to Joel R. Poinsett (1779-1851), U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who is said to have brought the plant to the attention of botanists.

point (n.) --- 12c., a merger of two words, both ultimately from L. pungere "prick, pierce" (see pungent). The neut. pp. punctum was used as a noun, meaning "small hole made by pricking," subsequently extended to anything that looked like one, hence, "dot, particle," etc., which was its meaning as O.Fr. point, borrowed in M.E. by c.1300. The fem. pp. of pungere was puncta, which was used in M.L. to mean "sharp tip," and became O.Fr. pointe, which also passed into English, c.1330. The sense have merged in Eng., but remain distinct in Fr. Extended senses are from the notion of "minute, single, or separate items in an extended whole," which is the earliest attested sense in Eng. (c.1225). Meaning "distinguishing feature" is recorded from c.1470. Meaning "a unit of score in a game" is first recorded 1746. As a typeface unit, it went into use in U.S. 1883. As a measure of weight for precious stones (one one-hundredth of a carat) it is recorded from 1931. The point "the matter being discussed" is attested from c.1381; meaning "sense, purpose, advantage" (usually in the negative, e.g. what's the point?) is first recorded 1903. Phrase possession is nine (or eleven) points of the law (1697) is out of a supposed 10 (or 12). Point of view (1727) is a loan-transl. of Fr. point de vue, itself a loan-transl. of L. punctum visus (cf. Ger. Gesichtspunkt). Point of honor (1612) translates Fr. point d'honneur. Point of no return (1941) is originally aviators' term for the point in a flight "before which any engine failure requires an immediate turn around and return to the point of departure, and beyond which such return is no longer practical."

point (v.) --- to indicate with the finger, c.1470, from point (n.). Pointer "item of advice" first recorded 1883.

point blank --- 1571, from point (v.) + blank, the white center of a target. The notion is of standing close enough to aim (point) at the blank without allowance for curve, windage, or gravity.

point man --- one who leads a military patrol in formation in a jungle, etc., 1944, from point (n.) in military sense of "small leading party of an advance guard" (1589).

pointed --- having the quality of penetrating the feelings or mind, 1665, from pp. of point (v.) in sense of "furnish with a point."

pointer --- dog that stands rigid in the presence of game, facing the quarry, 1717, from point (v.).

pointillism --- 1901, from Fr. pointiller "to cover with pointilles," small dots, pl. dim. of point (see point (n.)). Pointillist is attested from 1891.

pointing --- the filling up of exterior faces of joints in brickwork, 1483, from point (n.).

poise (n.) --- 1421, "weight, quality of being heavy," later "significance, importance" (1457), from O.Fr. pois "weight, balance, consideration," from M.L. pesum "weight," from L. pensum, noun use of neuter pp. of pendere "to weigh" (see pendant). The sense of "steadiness, composure" first recorded 1649, from notion of being equally weighted on either side (1555). The verb is first recorded 1389, "to have a certain weight," from O.Fr. peser, from V.L. pesare, from L. pensare "to weigh carefully," freq. of pendere (pp. pensus) "to weigh." Passive sense of "to be ready" (to do something) is from 1932.

poison --- c.1230, "a deadly potion," from O.Fr. puison (12c.) "a drink," later "a potion, poisonous drink" (14c.), from L. potionem (nom. potio) "a drink," also "poisonous drink," from potare "to drink" (see potion). The O.E. word was ator (see attercop). Slang sense of "alcoholic drink" first attested 1805, Amer.Eng. The verb is c.1300, from the noun. Poison ivy first recorded 1784; poison oak is from 1743. Poison gas first recorded 1915. Poison-pen is from 1914.

poke (n.1) --- sack, 1228, probably from O.N.Fr. poque (12c.), probably from a P.Gmc. *puk- (cf. O.E. pocca, M.Du. poke, O.N. poki "bag, pocket"), from PIE base *beu-, an imitative root associated with words for "to swell."

poke (n.2) --- 1634, "tobacco plant," from Narraganset puck "smoke," shortened from Algonquian uppowoc. Klein gives source as Virginian puccoon, lit. "plant for staining." The exact plant meant by the Indians is likewise uncertain.

poke (v.) --- c.1380, perhaps from M.Du. poken "to poke," or M.L.G. poken "to stick with a knife," both from P.Gmc. base *puk-, perhaps imitative. To poke fun "tease" first attested 1840; to poke around "search" is from 1809. The noun meaning "an act of poking" is attested from 1796, originally pugilistic slang.

poker (1) --- metal rod, 1534, from poke (v.).

poker (2) --- card game, 1834, Amer.Eng., perhaps from the first element of Ger. Pochspiel, name of a card game similar to poker, from pochen "to brag as a bluff," lit. "to knock, rap" (see poke (v.)). Another version traces the word to Fr. poque, also said to have been a card game resembling poker. The earlier version of the game in Eng. was called brag. Slang poker face "deadpan" is from 1885.

pokey (adj.) --- 1849, "confined, shabby," later (1856) "slow, dull;" from poke (v.).

pokey (n.) --- jail, 1919, perhaps altered from pogie "poorhouse" (1891), of unknown origin.

Polack --- Polish person, 1574; in N.Amer. usage, "Polish immigrant, person of Polish descent" (1879) and in that context considered offensive in Eng., even though it is the Pol. word for "Polish person."

polar --- 1551, from M.L. polaris, from L. polus (see pole (2)). Meaning "directly opposite in character or tendency" is attested from 1832. Polar bear first recorded 1781.

Polaris --- Mod.L., short for stella polaris, lit. "the pole star" (see polar). The ancient Greeks called it Phoenice, "the Phoenician (star)," since the Phoenicians used it for navigation, though due to procession of the equinoxes it was not then the pole star. As the name of a U.S. Navy long-range submarine-launched guided nuclear missile, it dates from 1957.

polarize --- 1811, from Fr. polariser, coined by Fr. physicist Étienne-Louis Malus (1775-1812) as a term in optics. Transf. sense of "to accentuate a division in a group or system" is first recorded 1949 in Arthur Koestler.

Polaroid --- material which in thin sheets produces a high degree of plane polarization of light passing through it, 1936, prop. name (Sheet Polarizer Co., Union City, N.J.). As a type of camera producing prints in a short time, it is attested from 1961.

pole (1) --- stake, O.E. pal "stake," from P.Gmc. *pal-, from L. palus "stake" (see pale(n.)). Racing sense of "inside fence surrounding a course" is from 1851. Pole-vault is attested from 1893. To not touch (something) with a ten-foot pole is from 1903, originally 40-foot pole.

pole (2) --- ends of Earth's axis, c.1391, from L. polus "end of an axis, the sky," from Gk. polos "pivot, axis of a sphere, the sky," from PIE *kwolo- "turn round," from base *kwel- (see cycle). Astronomical pole-star (proper name Polaris) is from 1555. The O.E. word for it was Scip-steorra "ship-star," reflecting its importance in navigation.

Pole (3) --- inhabitant or native of Poland, 1656, from Ger. Pole, sing. of Polen, from Pol. Poljane, lit. "field-dwellers," from pole "field," from PIE base *pele- "flat, plain" (see plane (1)).

poleax --- kind of axe used as a weapon or by butchers, c.1300, pollax, from pol "head" (see poll) + ax. From notion of either beheading or head-splitting. Spelling alt. 17c. by confusion with pole (1)).

polecat --- 1320, first element is probably Anglo-Fr. pol, from O.Fr. poule "fowl, hen," so called because it preys on poultry. The other alternative is that the first element is from O.Fr. pulent "stinking," for obvious reasons. Originally the European Putorius foetidus; also applied to related U.S. skunks since 1688.

polemarch --- commander of the army, 1579, from Gk. polemarkhos, from polemos "war" + arkhos "leader, chief, ruler" (see archon).

polemic --- 1638, "controversial argument or discussion," from Gk. polemikos "warlike, belligerent," from polemos "war." Meaning "one who writes in opposition to another" is attested from 1680.

polenta --- O.E., from L., lit. "peeled barley," related to pollen "fine flour." Later reborrowed from It. polenta, from the L. word (see pollen).

police --- c.1530, at first essentially the same word as policy (1); from M.Fr. police (1477), from L. politia "civil administration," from Gk. polis "city" (see policy (1)). Still used in Eng. for "civil administration" until mid-19c.; application to "administration of public order" (1716) is from Fr., and originally referred to France or other foreign nations. The first force so-named in Eng. was the Marine Police, set up 1798 to protect merchandise at the Port of London. The verb "to keep order by means of police" is from 1841; policeman is from 1829. Police state "state regulated by means of national police" first recorded 1865, with ref. to Austria.

policlinic --- 1827, originally, "clinic held in a private house" (instead of a hospital), from Ger. poliklinik, from Gk. polis "city" (see policy (1)) + Klinik, from Fr. clinique (see clinic).

policy (1) --- way of management, government, administration, c.1386, from O.Fr. policie (14c.) "civil administration," from L. politia "the state," from Gk. politeia "state, administration, government, citizenship," from polites "citizen," from polis "city, state," from PIE *p(o)lH- "enclosed space, often on high ground" (cf. Skt. pur, puram "city, citadel," Lith. pilis "fortress"). Meaning "plan of action, way of management" first recorded c.1406.

policy (2) --- written insurance agreement, 1565, from M.Fr. police "contract, bill of lading" (1371), from It. polizza "written evidence of a transaction," from M.L. apodissa "receipt for money," from Gk. apodexis "proof, declaration," from apo- "off" + deiknynia "to show," cognate with L. dicere "to tell" (see diction).

polio --- 1931, abbreviation of poliomyelitis, coined 1878 from Gk. polios "gray" + myelos "marrow" + L. -itis "inflammation," so called because the gray matter in the spinal cord is inflamed, which causes paralysis. The earlier name was infantile paralysis (1843).

polish (v.) --- c.1300, from O.Fr. poliss-, prp. stem of polir "to polish," from L. polire "to polish, make smooth," of unknown origin. The notion of "to free from coarseness, to refine" first recorded 1340. Polished "elegant" is attested from c.1412. Slang polish off "finish" is 1837, from notion of applying a coat of polish being the final step in a piece of work. The noun is first recorded c.1704, from the verb.

Politbureau --- highest policy-making committee of the U.S.S.R., 1927, from Rus. politbyuro, from polit(icheskoe) "political" + byuro "bureau."

polite --- 1263, from L. politus "refined, elegant," lit. "polished," pp. of polire "to polish, to make smooth." Used literally at first in Eng.; sense of "elegant, cultured" is first recorded 1501, that of "behaving courteously" is 1762.

politic (adj.) --- 1427, from M.Fr. politique (14c.) "political," from L. politicus "of citizens or the state, civil, civic," from Gk. politikos "of citizens or the state," from polites "citizen," from polis "city" (see policy (1)). Replaced in most adj. senses by political (1551). The verb meaning "to engage in political activity" is first recorded 1917, a back-formation from politics.

politician --- 1588, from politics (q.v.). Colloquial abbreviated form pol is attested from 1942. Alternate form politico (usually in a derogatory sense) is attested from 1630, from It. or Sp. politico, noun use of adj. meaning "political," from L. politicus (see politic).

politics (n.) --- 1529, "science of government," from politic (adj.), modeled on Aristotle's ta politika "affairs of state," the name of his book on governing and governments, which was in Eng. 1450 as "Polettiques."

polity --- 1538, from Fr. politie (1419), from L.L. polita "organized government" (see policy).

polka --- 1844, from Fr., from Czech polka, the dance, lit. "Polish woman" (Polish Polka), fem. of Polak "a Pole." The word may also be an alteration of Czech pulka "half," for the half-steps of Bohemian peasant dances. The dance was in vogue first in Prague, 1835; it reached London by the spring of 1842. Polka dot is first recorded 1884 and is named for the dance, for no reason except its popularity, which led to many contemporary products and fashions taking the name.

poll --- c.1290, polle "hair of the head," from M.L.G. or M.Du. pol "head, top." Meaning "collection of votes" is first recorded 1625, from notion of "counting heads;" meaning "survey of public opinion" is first recorded 1902. The verb meaning "to take the votes of" also is first recorded 1625. Pollster is 1939. A deed poll "deed executed by one party only," is from earlier verbal meaning "cut the hair of," because the deed was cut straight rather than indented (see indent).

pollack --- sea fish, 1602, alteration of Scottish podlok, of unknown origin. Possibly altered by influence of Pollack "Polish person."

pollen --- 1760 as a botanical term for the fertilizing element of flowers (from Linnæus, 1751), earlier "dust" (1523), from L. pollen "mill dust, fine flour," related to polenta "peeled barley," and pulvis (gen. pulveris) "dust," from PIE base *pel- "dust, porridge made of meal" (cf. Gk. poltos "pap, porridge," Skt. palalam "ground seeds," Lith. pelenai, O.C.S. popelu, Rus. pepelo "ashes"). Pollination is first recorded 1875, from Fr. pollination, formed 1812 from L. pollen.

polliwog --- c.1440, polwygle, probably from pol "head" (see poll) + wiglen (see wiggle). Modern spelling is 1830s, replacing earlier polwigge.

pollution --- c.1340, "discharge of semen other than during sex," later, "desecration, defilement" (1382), from L.L. pollutionem (nom. pollutio) "defilement," from L. polluere "to soil, defile, contaminate," from por- "before" + -luere "smear," related to lutum "mud," and to lues "filth" (cf. Gk. lyma "filth, dirt, disgrace," lymax "rubbish, refuse," O.Ir. loth "mud, dirt," Lith. lutynas "pool, puddle"). Sense of "contamination of the environment" first recorded c.1860, but not common until c.1955. Pollute (v.) is attested from c.1380 in sense "defile," from L. pollutus, pp. of polluere. Meaning "contaminate the environment" first recorded 1954. Pollutant is from 1892.

Pollux --- twin brother of Castor, name of the second star of Gemini, 1526, from L., from Gk. Polydeukes, lit. "very sweet," from polys "much" (see poly-) + deukes "sweet." The contraction of the name in L. is perhaps via Etruscan.

Polly --- fem. proper name, a rhyming collateral form of Molly, pet form of Mary.

Pollyanna --- one who finds cause for gladness in the most difficult situations, 1921, in allusion to Pollyanna Whittier, child heroine of U.S. novelist Eleanor Hodgman Porter's "Pollyanna" (1913) and "Pollyanna Grows Up" (1915), noted for keeping her chin up during disasters.

polo --- 1872, Anglo-Indian polo, from Balti (Tibetan language of the Indus valley) polo "ball," related to Tibetan pulu "ball." An ancient game in south Asia, first played in England at Aldershot, 1871. Water polo is from 1884. Polo shirt (1920) originally was a kind worn by polo players.

polonaise --- 1773, "woman's overdress" (from fancied resemblance to Polish costume); 1797, "stately dance," from Fr. (danse) polonaise "a Polish (dance)," fem. of polonais (adj.) "Polish," from Pologne "Poland," from M.L. Polonia "Poland." In the culinary sense, applied to dishes supposed to be cooked in Pol. style, attested from 1889.

poltergeist --- 1838, from Ger. Poltergeist, lit. "noisy ghost," from poltern "make noise, rattle" (from PIE base *bhel- "to sound, ring, roar") + Geist "ghost" (see ghost). In the native idiom of Northern England, such phenomenon likely would be credited to a boggart.

poltroon --- spiritless coward, 1529, from M.Fr. poultron "rascal, coward," from It. poltrone "lazy fellow, coward," apparently from *poltro "couch, bed" (cf. Milanese polter, Venetian poltrona "couch"), perhaps from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. polstar "pillow," see bolster).

poly- --- comb. form meaning "many, much," from Gk. poly-, combining form of polys "much" (plural polloi); cognate with L. plus, from PIE base *ple- (cf. Skt. purvi "much," prayah "mostly;" Avestan perena-, O.Pers. paru "much;" Gk. plethos "people, multitude, great number," pleres "full," polys "much, plenty," ploutos "wealth," plethein "be full;" Lith. pilus "full, abundant;" O.C.S. plunu; Goth. filu "much," O.N. fjöl-, O.E. fela, feola "much, many;" O.E. folgian; O.Ir. lan, Welsh llawn "full;" O.Ir. il, Welsh elu "much"), probably related to base *pele- "to spread."