pill
pronunciation
How to pronounce pill in British English:
UK [pɪl]
How to pronounce pill in American English:
US [pɪl]
-
- Noun:
- something that resembles a pill in shape or size
- a dose of medicine in the form of a small pellet
- a unpleasant or tiresome person
- something unpleasant or offensive that must be tolerated or endured
- a contraceptive in the form of a pill containing estrogen and progestin to inhibit ovulation and so prevent conception
Word Origin
- pill
- pill: see pellet
- pill (n.)
- "small ball or round mass of medicine," c. 1400, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German pille and Middle French pile, all from Latin pilula "pill," literally "little ball," diminutive of pila "a ball, playing ball," said to be related to pilus "hair" if the original notion was "hairball." Figurative sense "something disagreeable that must be swallowed" is from 1540s; slang meaning "boring person" is recorded from 1871. The pill "contraceptive pill" is from 1957.
- pill (v.)
- 1736, "to dose on pills," from pill (n.). From 1882 as "to form into pills." Related: Pilled; pilling.