Etymology From Middle English picche, piche, pich, from Old English piċ, from Proto-West Germanic *pik, from Latin pix. Cognate with Ancient Greek πίσσα (píssa, “pitch, tar”), Latin pīnus (“pine”). More at pine. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Pik (“pitch, tar”), Dutch pek (“pitch, tar”), German Low German Pick (“pitch, tar”), German Pech (“pitch, tar”), Catalan pega (“pitch”), Spanish pegar (“to stick, glue”), Franco-Provençal pouatche (“sap from a pine”) and French poix (“sap”). The adjective is probably back-formed from pitch-black, reinterpreting "pitch" as meaning "intense(ly)".
1
A sticky, gummy substance secreted by trees; sap.
It is hard to get this pitch off my hand.
2
A dark, extremely viscous material still remaining after distilling crude oil or natural tar.
Etymology From Middle English picche, piche, pich, from Old English piċ, from Proto-West Germanic *pik, from Latin pix. Cognate with Ancient Greek πίσσα (píssa, “pitch, tar”), Latin pīnus (“pine”). More at pine. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Pik (“pitch, tar”), Dutch pek (“pitch, tar”), German Low German Pick (“pitch, tar”), German Pech (“pitch, tar”), Catalan pega (“pitch”), Spanish pegar (“to stick, glue”), Franco-Provençal pouatche (“sap from a pine”) and French poix (“sap”). The adjective is probably back-formed from pitch-black, reinterpreting "pitch" as meaning "intense(ly)".
1
To cover or smear with pitch.
“Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.”1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 6:14:
2
To darken; to blacken; to obscure.
1704 (published), year written unknown, John Dryden, On the Death of Amyntas Soon he found / The welkin pitch'd with sullen clouds.
pitch
adj
Etymology From Middle English picche, piche, pich, from Old English piċ, from Proto-West Germanic *pik, from Latin pix. Cognate with Ancient Greek πίσσα (píssa, “pitch, tar”), Latin pīnus (“pine”). More at pine. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Pik (“pitch, tar”), Dutch pek (“pitch, tar”), German Low German Pick (“pitch, tar”), German Pech (“pitch, tar”), Catalan pega (“pitch”), Spanish pegar (“to stick, glue”), Franco-Provençal pouatche (“sap from a pine”) and French poix (“sap”). The adjective is probably back-formed from pitch-black, reinterpreting "pitch" as meaning "intense(ly)".
1
Very dark black; pitch-black.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:pitch.
2
Of a black color Intense, deep, dark.
Then I got back here - difficulty again: no trolly-bus, and black pitcher than black - and have since been conning the Beveridge Report.2008 July 15, Edward Morgan Forster, Christopher Isherwood, Letters Between Forster and Isherwood on Homosexuality and Literature, Palgrave MacMillan:
If you lose even once, that's it: The screen goes, like, the pitchest black ever, and you're [out].2013 February 26, Dale E. Basye, Snivel: The Fifth Circle of Heck, Yearling, →ISBN, page 162:
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For some of us postpartum depression is the pitchest black we have ever known. From the dark womb we welcome new life, and our own new life, a life we haven't known, unfolds[…]2016 August 30, Mandy Arioto, Starry-Eyed: Seeing Grace in the Unfolding Constellation of Life and Motherhood, Zondervan, →ISBN, page 19:
pitch
noun
Etymology From Middle English picchen, pycchen (“to thrust in, fasten, settle”), from Old English *piċċan, from Proto-West Germanic *pikkijan, a variant of Proto-West Germanic *pikkōn (“to pick, peck”), whence Middle English pikken, picken (“to pick, pierce”), modern English pick.
Hobbies, Lifestyle, SportsAustralia, New Zealand, UK The field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played. (In cricket, the pitch is in the centre of the field; see cricket pitch.) (Not often used in the US or Canada, where "field" is the preferred word.)
The teams met on the pitch.
4
Golf, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A short, high, lofty shot that lands with backspin.
“The two men of Alltraighe maintain, Two chiefs of the plain of Kerry, A clan the most active in pitch of battle, Their chiefs are O’Neide and Clan Conary.”1845, Owen Connellan, Annals of Ireland: Translated from the Original Irish of the Four Masters, page 179:
Every other day they would spend half of the training hours on the battle pitch.2015, SK Benton, Lives of Future-Past:
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George’s cult was popular in the east because of his legendary feats on the battle pitch and because of the location of his tomb, which was a pilgrimage site.2018, Christopher R. Lakey, Sculptural Seeing: Relief, Optics and the Rise of Perspectives in Medieval Italy, page 84:
6
An effort to sell or promote something.
He gave me a sales pitch.
7
The distance between evenly spaced objects, e.g. the teeth of a saw or gear, the turns of a screw thread, the centres of holes, or letters in a monospace font.
The pitch of pixels on the point scale is 72 pixels per inch.
The pitch of this saw is perfect for that type of wood.
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A helical scan with a pitch of zero is equivalent to constant z-axis scanning.
The propeller blades' pitch went to 90° as the engine was feathered.
11
An area in a market (or similar) allocated to a particular trader.
12
Broadly The place where a busker performs, a prostitute solicits clients, or an illegal gambling game etc. is set up before the public.
Another reason is that the prostitute who makes her pitch at Marble Arch stands a chance of being picked up by an out-of-town business man stopping at one of the hotels in the vicinity, and of being treated to a steak dinner […]1975, Tom A. Cullen, The Prostitutes' Padre, page 94:
13
An area on a campsite intended for occupation by a single tent, caravan or similar.
14
A level or degree, or (by extension), a peak or highest degree.
He lived at a time when learning was at its highest pitch.September 28, 1710, Joseph Addison, Whig-Examiner No. 2
But, except the mind be disordered by disease or madness, they never can arrive at such a pitch of vivacity1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral, Oxford University Press, published 1973, section 11:
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In the eyes of Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke the apotheosis of the Celebrity was complete. The people of Asquith were not only willing to attend the house-warming, but had been worked up to the pitch of eagerness.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
In this poem his 'vernacular' bluster and garish misrhymes build to a pitch of rowdy anarchy […]2014, James Booth, Philip Larkin: Life, Art and Love, page 190:
15
A point or peak; the extreme point of elevation or depression.
Driven headlong from the pitch of heaven, down / Into this deep.1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
16
The most thrust-out point of a headland or cape.
From the pitch of Cape-Fraward, to the pitch of Cape-Holland, the Streight lies in the Channel West and by North, nearest, and is distant full five Leagues;2014, John Narborough, Abel Tasman, John Wood, An Account of Several Late Voyages and Discoveries to the South and North, →ISBN:
17
Obsolete Collectively, the outermost points of some part of the body, especially the shoulders or hips.
Such breadth of ſhoulders as might mainely beare Olde Atlas burthen, twixt his manly pitch, A pearle more worth, then all the world is plaſte: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 (please specify |act=I or II), scene i:
18
The height a bird reaches in flight, especially a bird of prey preparing to swoop down on its prey.
Alba the emperor was crook-backed, Epictetus lame; that great Alexander a little man of stature, Augustus Cæsar of the same pitch […].1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 2:
So like in person, garb, and pitch, 'Twas hard t' interpret which was which1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC:
20
Prominence; importance.
Enterprises of great pitch and moment.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
21
Climbing, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A section of a climb or rock face; specifically, the climbing distance between belays or stances.
The line turns a sharp right-angle to the north to circumvent the town, and then plunges straight into the 1 in 50, which lasts for nearly 20 miles with few intermissions, and some pitches of 1 in 40.1950 April, Timothy H. Cobb, “The Kenya-Uganda Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 265:
You lead "through" instead — your companion leads a pitch, then you join him. But instead of swapping over at the ice axe belay, you carry on in the lead, cutting or kicking steps until you are about twenty feet above.1967, Anthony Greenbank, Instructions in Mountaineering, page 84:
22
Caving, Hobbies, Lifestyle A vertical cave passage, only negotiable by using rope or ladders.
The entrance pitch requires 30 metres of rope.
23
Ball games, Cricket, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports That point of the ground on which the ball pitches or lights when bowled.
24
A descent; a fall; a thrusting down.
25
The point where a declivity begins; hence, the declivity itself; a descending slope; the degree or rate of descent or slope; slant.
a steep pitch in the road
the pitch of a roof
26
Business, Mining The limit of ground set to a miner who receives a share of the ore taken out.
Etymology From Middle English picchen, pycchen (“to thrust in, fasten, settle”), from Old English *piċċan, from Proto-West Germanic *pikkijan, a variant of Proto-West Germanic *pikkōn (“to pick, peck”), whence Middle English pikken, picken (“to pick, pierce”), modern English pick.
To deliver in a certain tone or style, or with a certain audience in mind.
At which level should I pitch my presentation?
7
To assemble or erect (a tent). Also used figuratively.
Pitch the tent over there.
Why not, when it was clearly now possible to pitch your tent well beyond whatever expert consensus considered reasonable and be lionised instead of punished [...]2024 April 16, Gaby Hinsliff, “Liz Truss has kindly offered to ‘save the west’. But who will save her from her delusions?”, in The Guardian:
8
To fix or place a tent or temporary habitation; to encamp.
Laban with his brethren pitched in the Mount of Gilead.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 31:25:
His bone leg steadied in that hole ; one arm elevated, and holding by a shroud ; Captain Ahab stood erect, looking straight out beyond the ship's ever-pitching prow.1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 28, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 136:
Half a dozen deserted boats pitched aimlessly upon the confusion of the waves.1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 103:
10
To set at an angle, especially a downwards one; to cause to tilt.
Driveway cross slopes along Owyhee Street in Boise reach nearly 9%, which could cause a person in a wheelchair or using another mobility device to be pitched into the street. The cross slope should be no greater than 2% in order to prevent this.2020 August 4, Don Kostelec, ““Fully implement ADA.” Do agencies know what that means?”, in Kostelec Planning:
11
Golf, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To play a short, high, lofty shot that lands with backspin.
The only way to get on the green from here is to pitch the ball over the bunker.
Archaic To alight; to settle; to come to rest from flight.
the tree whereon they [the bees] pitch1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC:
15
To fix one's choice.
With on or upon
Pitch upon the best course of life, and custom will render it the more easy.a. 1694, John Tillotson, The Precepts of Christianity not grievous:
"'Tis very unlucky that we didn't pitch on a sound one, when there were so many more of 'em!"1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented […], volume I, London: James R[ipley] Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., […], →OCLC, phase the first (The Maiden), page 53:
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At present they have pitched their suspicions on a German visitor staying at Cliffhurst.1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
16
To plunge or fall; especially, to fall forward; to decline or slope.
to pitch from a precipice
The field pitches toward the east.
17
To set, face, or pave (an embankment or roadway) with rubble or undressed stones.
[…]pitch the road with hard stones [rather] than to break them up for a road covering1838, Thomas Hughes, The Practice of Making & Repairing Roads:
18
To set or fix (a price or value).
Whose vultur thought doth pitch the price so hie, That she will draw his lips rich treasure drie.1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC:
They pitched at the waters of Merom. These waters of Merom are generally thought to be nothing but the lake of Semechon,[…]1801, Thomas Coke, chapter 11, in A Commentary on the Holy Bible: Commentary on the Old Teatament, Joshua, page 51, verse 5:
“Vy don’t you pitch into her Sarah?” exclaims one half-dressed matron by way of encouragement.1866, Charles Dickens, Works: Sketches by Boz: Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People with Illustrations by George Cruikshank, page 65:
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Yet I sometimes long to pitch at him for daring to lift his eyes this way; I always feel the blood tingling at my finger’s end whenever he crosses my path.1868, Rock Ruin; or the Daughter of the Island, page 23:
On the seventh day after the two armies were pitched against each other in the plain before Aphek the battle was joined, the Syrians were routed, and a hundred thousand of their foot-men were slain in one day.1886, James Osgood Andrew Clark, Elijah Vindicated: Or The Answer by Fire, page 378:
The Philistines, hearing that Israel were assembled at Mizpeh, raised an army and pitched against them.1892, Louis Barnett Abrahams, A Manual of Scripture History for Use in Jewish Schools and Families, page 72:
He would pitch into her, and pitch into himself, and then he would dwell on her good qualities, […]2015, William Dean Howells, Delphi Complete Works of William Dean Howells:
except for the cell growth which is higher for the yeast pitched with lower vitality2004 September 1, L. F. Guido, P. G. Rodrigues, J. A. Rodrigues, C. R. Gonçalves, A. A. Barros, “The impact of the physiological condition of the pitching yeast on beer flavour stability: an industrial approach”, in Food Chemistry, volume 87, number 2, →DOI, →ISSN, pages 187–193:
five pitching rates were applied to lab-scale fermentations to investigate its impact on the yeast2009 February 1, P. J. Verbelen, T. M. L. Dekoninck, S. M. G. Saerens, S. E. Van Mulders, J. M. Thevelein, “Impact of pitching rate on yeast fermentation performance and beer flavour”, in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, volume 82, number 1, →DOI, →ISSN, pages 155–167:
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Since yeast propagation is time and resource intensive, it is customary to serially re-pitch yeast2019 August 1, Girmay Kalayu, “Serial re-pitching: its effect on yeast physiology, fermentation performance, and product quality”, in Annals of Microbiology, volume 69, number 8, →DOI, →ISSN, pages 787–796:
The pitch of middle "C" is familiar to many musicians.
Hertzian waves are not caused by vibrations of the ponderable matter of the brass balls, the form of which only determines the pitch.1895 February 28, Ludwig Boltzmann, “On Certain Questions of the Theory of Gases" (Letters to the Editor)”, in Nature, volume 51, number 1322, page 414:
2
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music The standard to which a group of musical instruments are tuned or in which a piece is performed, usually by reference to the frequency to which the musical note A above middle C is tuned.
Are we in baroque pitch for this one?
3
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music In an a cappella group, the singer responsible for singing a note for the other members to tune themselves by.
Bob, our pitch, let out a clear middle "C" and our conductor gave the signal to start.
Etymology Unknown. Perhaps from the above sense of "inclination", "level", or "degree", or influenced by it.
1
To produce a note of a given pitch.
[…] now the orchestra is playing yellow cocktail music and the opera of voices pitches a key higher.1925, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, chapter 3, in The Great Gatsby, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, published 1953, →ISBN:
2
To fix or set the tone of.
His "hello" was enough to recognize his voice by. I pitched mine low so he wouldn't know it.1955 October, Rex Stout, “Die Like a Dog”, in Three Witnesses, Bantam, published 1994, →ISBN, pages 196–197:
I record voice messages in Russian, with my voice pitched to a sexy-baby timbre and a heavy American accent.2020 October 14, Cathryn Virginia, “My Life as an Anti-Fascist Catfisher”, in The New Republic: