pied etymology

Etymology

The word "pied" derives from the Old English word "pyd," meaning "a kind of cloth." It is thought to be related to the Old French word "pied," also meaning "cloth," and may ultimately derive from a Germanic root meaning "foot."

Meaning

"Pied" has several related meanings:

• Fabric with a colorful pattern: A pied fabric is characterized by its multicolored woven design, often featuring irregular or small-scale patterns.
• Partially colored: Used to describe an animal or object that has patches or areas of different colors, such as a "pied cow" or a "pied flycatcher" bird.
• Variable or mixed: Something that is composed of different elements or qualities, such as "a pied life" or "a pied jury."
• Piebald: An archaic term for a horse with a black and white coat pattern.

Origin

The use of "pied" to describe a fabric with a colorful pattern dates back to the Middle Ages. In the 14th century, "pied" cloth was a popular type of fabric used for clothing and household items. The term "pied" has been applied to animal colorations since the 16th century.

Examples

• "The jester wore a motley suit of pied fabric."
• "The pied cow stood out in the herd with its patches of white and black."
• "His life was a pied mixture of joy and sorrow."
• "The pied flycatcher is a small bird with a distinctive black and white plumage."

pied relate terms

• magpie

  Etymology The word magpie comes from the Middle English word magpye which is thoug

• motley

  Etymology The word motley is derived from the following sources Old French motele

• calico

  Etymology caligo Latin darkness mist gloom Meaning A small dark colored cr

• piebald

  Etymology Pie From Middle English pie meaning a black and white horse Bald From

• medley

  Etymology The word medley originates from the Old English word medle meaning mixtu

• pica

  Etymology Latin pica meaning magpie Proto Germanic mag magpie Meaning

• pedigree

  Etymology The word pedigree is derived from the following roots Latin pes foot

• parti colored

  Etymology Origin Middle English from Anglo Norman French from Old French parti divid

• hyperbole

  Etymology The word hyperbole comes from the Greek word hyperbolē which means overt

• canteen

  Etymology From Portuguese cantina from Italian cantina from Latin canthum rim hoop

• noble

  Etymology The English word noble comes from the Old French noble c 1080 which is