pill

English

/pɪl/

noun
Definitions
  • A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of medication.
  • (informal) Contraceptive medication, usually in the form of a pill to be taken by a woman; an oral contraceptive pill.
  • (slang) A comical or entertaining person.
  • (slang) A contemptible, annoying, or unpleasant person.
  • (informal) A small piece of any substance, for example a ball of fibres formed on the surface of a textile by rubbing.
  • (archaic) A baseball.
  • (firearms) A bullet (projectile).
  • (GUI) A rounded rectangle indicating the tag or category that an item belongs to.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English pille derived from Middle Low German pille derived from Middle Dutch pille derived from Latin pilla.

Origin

Latin

pilla

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms