A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580

by A. L. Mayhew; Walter W. Skeat

[ Pillen], v. to peel, Prompt.; pille, Cath.; pill, Cotg., WW; pilie, PP; pilled, pp., bald, WW, Prompt.; piled, C; pilde, peeled, bare, S3. Phr.: pille garleke, vellicare, Cath.—OF. peler (Cotg.), also piller (Palsg.); Lat. pilare, to deprive of hair, from pilus, hair.

[ Pillen], v. to plunder, CM, ND; pylle, S3; pilen, PP; pil, H; pylen, PP; pylled, pt. pl., S3.—OF. piller (Cotg.); Late Lat. pilare (Ducange).

[ Pillery], sb. rapine, ND.

[ Pilling], sb. robbery, S3.

[ Pillour], sb. plunderer, PP; piloure, PP; pyllars, pl., S3.

[ Pilwe], sb. pillow, CM; pilewe, S2; pilous, pl., CM.—AS. pyle (= *pulwi); Lat. pulvinus; cp. OHG. phuliwi (Tatian).

[ Pilwe-beer], sb. pillow-case, C; pillowe-bere, Cath.; pyllo-berys, pl., HD.

[ Pinchen], v. to find fault, C3; pynche, C; i-pynched, pp., plaited, C. Phr.: I pynche courtaysye, je fays le nyce, Palsg.—OF. pincer; It. picciare, to pinch with a beak (Florio); from piccio, a beak, bill (Florio).

[ Pirie], sb. pear-tree, S2, P.—AS. pirige (Voc.). See [Pere].

[ Piri-whit], sb. white perry, S2; see [Pereye].