Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pil-? Latin pilus? Latin pila Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -ula Latin pilula, pillulabor. Middle Low German pilleder. Middle Dutch pilleder. Middle English pille English pill From Middle English pille (also pillem), a borrowing from Middle Low German pille or Middle Dutch pille (whence Dutch pil), probably from Latin pila, pilula. * (persuade or convince): Generalized from red pill.
Broadly A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of medication.
Take two pills every hour in the apyrexia of intermittent fever, until eight are taken.1864, Benjamin Ellis, The Medical Formulary:
2
Broadly Such an object that is of solid constitution (usually of compressed, bonded powder) rather than a capsule (with a shell containing loose powder or liquid).
3
Definite, Informal Contraceptive medication, usually in the form of a pill to be taken by a woman; an oral contraceptive pill.
I.e. used with "the"
Jane went on the pill when she left for college.
She got pregnant one month after going off the pill.
2 more examples
I'm tearing down your brooder house / 'Cause now I've got the pill1975, “The Pill”, in Back to the Country, performed by Loretta Lynn:
Many specialists are requesting that this vitamin be included in all contraceptive pills, as women on the pill have a tendency to be depressed.1986, Jurriaan Plesman, Getting Off the Hook: Treatment of Drug Addiction and Social Disorders Through Body and Mind:
4
Something offensive, unpleasant or nauseous which must be accepted or endured.
"It's a sad unpalatable truth," said Mr. Pembroke, thinking that the despondency might be personal, "but one must accept it. My sister and Gerald, I am thankful to say, have accepted it, so naturally it has been a little pill."1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, III [Uniform ed., p. 45]
5
Slang A contemptible, annoying, or unpleasant person.
You see, he's egging Phyllis on to marry Wilbert Cream. [...] And when a man like that eggs, something has to give, especially when the girl's a pill like Phyllis, who always does what Daddy tells her.1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter IV:
Instead, I saw a woman in her mid-fifties, who was a real pill; while all the others had managed a decent “So pleased,” or even a plain “Hello,” Ginger just inclined her head, as if she was doing a Queen Mary imitation.2000, Susan Isaacs, Shining Through:
"Strike two!" bawled the umpire. I threw the pill back to Tom with a heart which drummed above the noise of the rooters along the side lines.1931, Canadian National Magazine, page 17:
Mr. Fisher contributed to the Sox effort when he threw the pill past second baseman Rath after Felsch hit him a comebacker.2002, John Klima, Pitched Battle: 35 of Baseball's Greatest Duels from the Mound:
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pil-? Latin pilus? Latin pila Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -ula Latin pilula, pillulabor. Middle Low German pilleder. Middle Dutch pilleder. Middle English pille English pill From Middle English pille (also pillem), a borrowing from Middle Low German pille or Middle Dutch pille (whence Dutch pil), probably from Latin pila, pilula. * (persuade or convince): Generalized from red pill.
This sweater is already pilled: it fuzzed after the very first wash.
During processing, inferior short fibers (which can cause pilling and itching) are removed to enhance the natural softness of the yarn and to improve its wash-and-wear performance.1997, Jo Sharp, Knitted Sweater Style: Inspirations in Color:
2
To form into the shape of a pill.
Pilling is a skill rarely used by modern pharmacists.
3
To medicate with pills; to administer pills to.
She pills herself with all sorts of herbal medicines.
Pilling the cat is such a nightmare.
4
To take recreational drugs in pill form.
Nev offered it to Layla who replied, "Thanks, but at the moment I'm pilling and it will bring me down."2017, Michael Coleman, Old Skool Rave, page 182:
5
Internet To persuade or convince someone of something.
6
UK, Dated, Slang To blackball (a potential club member).
“I pilled him because he is a liar,” said Thackeray. “He calls himself 'ill' when he isn't.”1907, Arthur Griffiths, Clubs and Clubmen, page 260:
pill
verb
Etymology From Middle English pillen, pilen, from Old English pilian (“to peel”), from Latin pilō (“depilate”), from pilus (“hair”). Doublet of peel.
1
Obsolete To peel; to remove the outer layer of hair, skin, or bark.
2
To peel; to make by removing the skin.
[Jacob] pilled white streaks[…]in the rods.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 30:37:
So syr Lucan departed for he was greuously wounded in many places And so as he yede he sawe and herkened by the mone lyght how that pyllars and robbers were comen in to the felde To pylle and robbe many a ful noble knyghte of brochys and bedys of many a good rynge & of many a ryche Iewel / and who that were not deed al oute1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “iiij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XXI:
The Galles and thoſe pilling Briggandines, That yeerely ſaile to the Uenetian goulfe, And houer in the ſtraightes for Chriſtians wracke, Shall lie at anchor in the Iſle Aſant.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iii:
1 more example
And there by her were poured forth at fill, As if, this to adorne, she all the rest did pill1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
pill
noun
Etymology From Middle English pillen, pilen, from Old English pilian (“to peel”), from Latin pilō (“depilate”), from pilus (“hair”). Doublet of peel.
Some be covered with crusts or hard pills, as the locust1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “(please specify |book=I to XXXVII)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC:
To make Sallet of Lemon pill, or green Citron. You must have your Lemon Pill preserved very green, Rasp it into a Dish, and raise it up lightly with a Fork […]1682, A perfect school of Instructions for the Officers of the Mouth, page 148:
pill
noun
Etymology From Middle English *pill, *pyll, from Old English pyll (“a pool, pill”), from Proto-Germanic *pullijaz (“small pool, ditch, creek”), diminutive of Proto-Germanic *pullaz (“pool, stream”), from Proto-Indo-European *bl̥nos (“bog, marsh”). Cognate with Old English pull (“pool, creek”), Scots poll (“slow moving stream, creek, inlet”), Icelandic pollur (“pond, pool, puddle”). More at pool.
1
UK, Regional An inlet on the coast; a small tidal pool or bay. Pill can occur in the name of such an inlet.
Portishead, lying west-north-west of Bristol, on the Severn, had a small port from medieval times on its pill, or inlet, and began to develop as a seaside resort early in the nineteenth century, when it was served by steam packets from Bristol.1955 June, C. L. Mowat, “The Bristol & Portishead Pier & Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 371:
For fifty years, then, five times a week, the packet steamers came and went along that superb stretch of blue water, the trains rattled down the wooded valley of the pill, and their passengers rested and refreshed themselves in thriving New Milford, where flunkeys bowed before the best hotel. Those are the days which Neyland people, especially the older ones, recall with pride.1956 September, F. F. Nicholls, “Neyland, A Forgotten Harbour”, in Railway Magazine, pages 629-630: