Online Etymology Dictionary

payola: "graft" (especially to disc jockeys from record companies to play their music), 1938 [in a "Variety" headline, "Plug payolas perplexed"], from pay off "bribery" (underworld slang from 1930) + ending from Victrola, etc. (see pianola).
payroll (n.): 1740, from pay (v.) + roll (n.); "total amount paid to employees over a period," hence, via records-keeping, "list of employees receiving pay."
pea: 17c., false singular from M.E. pease (pl. pesen), which was both single and collective (e.g. wheat, corn) but was mistaken for a plural, from O.E. pise (W.Saxon), piose (Mercian) "pea," from L.L. pisa, variant of L. pisum "pea," from Gk. pison, perhaps of Thracian or Phrygian origin. Pea soup is first recorded 1711 (pease-soup); applied to London fogs since at least 1849. In Breton, piz, lit. "peas," also means "stingy," perhaps as a semantic borrowing of Fr. chiche "stingy," lit. "small," which also happens to be a homonym of chiche "peas." The Fr. word for small ultimately may be from L. ciccum, the same root as the word for "peas."
pea jacket: 1721, loan-translation of N.Fris. pijekkat, from Du. pijjekker, from pij "coarse woolen cloth" + jekker "jacket."
peace: 1140, "freedom from civil disorder," from Anglo-Norm. pes, from O.Fr. pais (11c., Fr. paix), from L. pacem (nom. pax) "treaty of peace, tranquility, absence of war" (cf. Prov. patz, Sp. paz, It. pace), from PIE *pak- "fasten," related to pacisci "to covenant or agree" (see pact). Replaced O.E. frið, also sibb, which also meant "happiness." Modern spelling is 1500s, reflecting vowel shift. Sense in peace of mind is from c.1200. Used in various greetings from c.1300, from Biblical L. pax, Gk. eirene, which were used by translators to render Heb. shalom, properly "safety, welfare, prosperity." Sense of "quiet" is attested by 1300; meaning "absence or cessation of war or hostility" is attested from c.1300. As a type of hybrid tea rose (developed 1939 in France by Francois Meilland), so called from 1944. Native American peace pipe is first recorded 1760. Peacemaker is from 1436. Phrase peace with honor first recorded 1607 (in "Coriolanus"). The Peace Corps was set up March 1, 1962. Peacenik is from 1965 (for suffix, see beatnik); an earlier equivalent was peacemonger (1808).
peaceful: c.1300, "inclined to peace, friendly," from peace. Meaning "tranquil, calm" is from mid-14c. In reference to nonviolent methods of effecting social change, it is attested from 1876. Peaceful coexistence (1920) originally was in regard to Soviet policy toward the capitalist West.
peach (n.): 1184, from O.Fr. pesche (O.N.Fr. peske, Fr. pêche), from M.L. pesca, from L.L. pessica, variant of persica "peach, peach tree," from L. malum Persicum "Persian apple," from Gk. Persikon malon, from Persis "Persia." The tree is native to China, but reached Europe via Persia. By 1663 William Penn observed peaches in cultivation on American plantations. Meaning "attractive woman" is attested from 1754; that of "good person" is from 1904. Slang peachy "excellent" is from 1900. Peaches and cream in ref. to a type of complexion is from 1901. Georgia has been the Peach State since 1939.
peach (v.): "to inform against," 1570 (earlier "to accuse, indict, bring to trial," c.1460), aphetic of appeach, an obs. variant of impeach (q.v.).
peacock: c.1300, poucock, from M.E. po "peacock" + coc (see cock (n.)). Po is from O.E. pawa "peafowl," from L. pavo (gen. pavonis), which, with Gk. taos said to be ultimately from Tamil tokei (but perhaps is imitative; Latin represented the peacock's sound as paupulo). The Latin word also is the source of O.H.G. pfawo, Ger. Pfau, Du. pauw, O.C.S. pavu. Used as the type of a vainglorious person from late 14c. Its flesh superstitiously believed to be incorruptible (even St. Augustine credits this). "When he sees his feet, he screams wildly, thinking that they are not in keeping with the rest of his body." [Epiphanus]
peak: "pointed top," 1530, variant of pike (2) "sharp point." Meaning "top of a mountain" first recorded 1634, though pike was used in this sense c.1400. Figurative sense is 1784. Meaning "point formed by hair on the forehead" is from 1833. The verb is first recorded 1577, in sense of "to rise in a peak;" meaning "reach highest point" first recorded 1958. The Peak in Derbyshire is O.E. Peaclond, apparently a reference to elf-denizen Peac "Puck."
peaked: 1835, from pp. of obsolete peak "look sickly or thin" (1550), perhaps from peak in sense of become "pointed" through emaciation.
peal (n.): late 14c., generally considered a shortened form of appeal, with the notion of a bell that "summons" people to church. This is not entirely convincing, but no better theory has been put forth. Extended sense of "loud ringing of bells" is first recorded 1510s. The verb is 1630s, from the noun.
peanut: 1807, earlier ground nut, ground pea (1769). The plant is native to S.America. Portuguese traders took peanuts from Brazil and Peru to Africa by 1502 and it is known to have been cultivated in Chekiang Province in China by 1573, probably arriving with Port. sailors who made stops in Brazil en route to the Orient. Peanut butter is first attested 1903. Peanut gallery "topmost rows of a theater" is from 1888; peanuts "trivial sum" is from 1934.
pear: O.E. pere, peru, common W.Gmc. (cf. M.Du., M.L.G. pere, Du. peer), from V.L. *pira, fem. sing. of L. pira, pl. of pirum "pear," a loan word from an unknown source.
pearl: 1258, from O.Fr. perle (13c.), M.L. perla (1244), of unknown origin. Perhaps from V.L. *pernula, dim. of L. perna in Sicily, "pearl," earlier "sea-mussel," lit. "ham," so called for the shape of the mollusk shells. Another theory connects it with the root of pear, also somehow based on shape. The usual L. word for "pearl" was margarita. Pearl Harbor translates Hawaiian Wai Momi, lit. "pearl waters," so named for the pearl oysters found there; transf. sense of "effective sudden attack" is attested from 1942 (in ref. to Dec. 7, 1941).
peasant: c.1410, from Anglo-Fr. paisant (1341), O.Fr. paisent (12c.), earlier paisenc, from pais "country, region" + Frank. suffix -enc "-ing." Pais is from L.L. pagensis "inhabitant of the district," from L. pagus "country or rural district" (see pagan). Peasantry is attested from c.1553.
pease: O.E., see pea, of which this is the etymologically correct form.
peat: c.1200, in Scottish-L., probably from O.Celt. root *pett- (cf. Cornish peyth, Welsh peth "quantity, part, thing," O.Ir. pet, Breton pez "piece"). The earliest sense is not of the turf but of the cut piece of it.
peavey: "a lumbering hook," 1878, said to be named for John Peavey, blacksmith in Bolivar, N.Y., who supposedly invented it.
pebble: late 13c., from O.E. papolstan "pebblestone," of unknown origin.
pecan: 1712, paccan "the pecan tree," or a related hickory, from Fr. pacane, from an Algonquian word meaning "nut" (cf. Cree pakan "hard-shelled nut," Ojibwa bagaan, Abenaki pagann, Fox /paka:ni/).
peccadillo: "slight sin," 1591, from Sp. pecadillo, dim. of pecado "a sin," from L. peccatum "a sin, fault, error," from neut. pp. of peccare "to make a mistake, sin," of unknown origin.
peccary: "pig-like animal of S.America," 1613, from Carib (Guiana or Venezuela) pakira, paquira.
peccavi: 1553, from L., lit. "I have sinned;" past tense of peccare "to sin." So, peccavimus "we have sinned;" peccavit "he has sinned."
peck (v.): c.1300, possibly a variant of picken (see pick (v.)), or in part from M.L.G. pekken "to peck with the beak." Pecker "one who pecks" is from 1697; slang sense of "penis" is from 1902. Peckerwood (1859) is U.S. Southern black dialectal inversion of woodpecker (q.v.); in folklore, taken as the type of white folks (1929) and symbolically contrasted with blackbird. As a behavior among hens, pecking order (1928) translates Ger. hackliste (T.J. Schjelderuo-Ebbe, 1922); transf. sense of "human hierarchy based on rank or status" is from 1955.
peck (n.): late 13c., "dry measure of one-quarter bushel," of unknown origin; perhaps connected with O.Fr. pek, picot (13c.), also of unknown origin. Chiefly of oats for horses; original sense may be "allowance" rather than a fixed measure, thus perhaps from peck (v.).
Peck's bad boy: "unruly or mischievous child," 1883, from fictional character created by George Wilbur Peck (1840-1916).
peckish: "disposed to peck, somewhat hungry," 1785, from peck (v.).
Pecksniffian: 1851, after Mr. Pecksniff, unctuous hypocrite in Dickens' "Martin Chuzzlewit" (1844).
pectin: 1838, from Fr. pectine, coined by Fr. chemist Henri Braconnot (1781-1855) from acide pectique "pectic acid," a constituent of fruit jellies, from Gk. pektikos "curdling, congealing," from pektos "curdled, congealed," from pegnynai "to make stiff or solid," from PIE base *pag-/*pak- "to join together" (see pact).
pectoral (adj.): 1578, "pertaining to the breast," from L. pectoralis "of the breast," from pectus (gen. pectoris) "breast, chest." The noun, short for pectoral muscle, is attested from 1758. Slang noun pec is first recorded 1966.
peculate (v.): 1749, from L. peculatus, pp. of peculari "to embezzle," from peculum "private property" (see peculiar).
peculiar: c.1460, from L. peculiaris "of one's own (property)," from peculium "private property," lit. "property in cattle" (in ancient times the most important form of property), from pecu "cattle, flock," related to pecus "cattle" (see pecuniary). Meaning of "unusual" is first attested 1608; peculiarity "special characteristic" is from 1646; noun meaning "an oddity" is 1777.
pecuniary: 1502, from L. pecuniarius "pertaining to money," from pecunia "money, property, wealth," from pecu "cattle, flock," from PIE base *peku- (cf. Skt. pasu- "cattle," Goth. faihu "money, fortune," O.E. feoh "cattle, money"). Livestock was the measure of wealth in the ancient world. For a related sense development in O.E., see fee. Cf. also Welsh tlws "jewel," cognate with Ir. tlus "cattle," connected via notion of "valuable thing."
pedagogue: 1387, "schoolmaster, teacher," from O.Fr. pedagogue "teacher of children," from L. paedagogus "slave who escorted children to school and generally supervised them," later "a teacher," from Gk. paidagogos, from pais (gen. paidos) "child" (see pedo-) + agogos "leader," from agein "to lead" (see act). Hostile implications in the word are at least from the time of Pepys. Pedagogy is 1583 from M.Fr. pédagogie, from Gk. paidagogia "education, attendance on children," from paidagogos "teacher."
pedal: 1611, "lever (on an organ) worked by foot," from Fr. pédale, from It. pedale "treadle, pedal," from L.L. pedale "(thing) of the foot," neut. of L. pedalis "of the foot," from pes (gen. pedis) "foot" (see foot). Extended to various mechanical contrivances by 1789. The verb is from the noun; 1866 of organs, 1888 of bicycles. Pedal-pushers "type of women's trousers suitable for bicycling" is from 1944.
pedant: 1588, "schoolmaster," from M.Fr. pédant (1566), from It. pedante "teacher, schoolmaster," apparently an alteration of L.L. paedagogantem (nom. paedagogans), prp. of paedagogare (see pedagogue). Meaning "person who trumpets minor points of learning" first recorded 1596.
pedantic: formed in Eng. c.1600, from pedant (q.v.) perhaps first in John Donne's "Sunne Rising," where he bids the morning sun let his love and him linger in bed, telling it, "Sawcy pedantique wretch, goe chide Late schooleboyes."
peddler: early 13c., from peoddere, peddere, of unknown origin. Pedlar, preferred spelling in U.K., is attested from late 14c. It has the appearance of an agent noun, but no verb is attested in M.E. Perhaps a dim. of ped "panier, basket," also of unknown origin, but this is only attested from c.1390. Peddle, colloquial for "to retail," is a back-formation attested from 1837.
pederasty: "sodomy with a boy," 1609, from Mod.L. pæderastia, from Gk. paiderastia "love of boys," from paiderastes "pederast," from pais (gen. paidos) "child, boy" (see pedo-) + erastes "lover," from erasthai "to love." Pederast is 1730s, from Fr. pédéraste, from Gk. paiderastes.
pedestal: 1563, "base supporting a column, statue, etc.," from M.Fr. piédestal (1547), from It. piedistallo "base of a pillar," from pie "foot" + di "of" + stallo "stall, place, seat." Spelling in Eng. influenced by L. pedem "foot." Fig. sense of put (someone) on a pedestal "regard as highly admirable" is attested from 1859.
pedestrian (adj.): 1716, "prosaic, dull" (of writing), from L. pedester (gen. pedestris) "plain, prosaic" (sense contrasted with equester "on horseback"), from pedes "one who goes on foot," from pes (gen. pedis) "foot" (see foot). Meaning "going on foot" is first attested 1791 in Eng. (it was also a sense of L. pedester). The noun meaning "walker" is 1793, from the adj.
pediatric: 1880, from Gk. paid-, stem of pais "child" + -iatric (q.v.). Pediatrics is first attested 1884; pediatrician is 1903.
pedicure: 1842, "one whose business is surgical care of feet" (removal of corns, bunions, etc.), from Fr. pédicure, from L. pes (gen. pedis) "foot" + curare "to care for," from cura (see care). In ref. to the treatment itself, attested from 1890; specifically as a beauty treatment, from 1900.
pedigree: c.1410, "genealogical table or chart," from Anglo-Fr. pe de gru, a variant of O.Fr. pied de gru "foot of a crane," from L. pedem "foot" + gruem (nom. grus) "crane," cognate with Gk. geranos, O.E. cran, see crane). On old manuscripts, "descent" was indicated by a forked sign resembling the branching lines of a genealogical chart; the sign also happened to look like a bird's footprint. Form infl. in M.E. by association with degree. Meaning "ancestral line" is c.1440; of animals, 1608.
pediment: triangular part of the facade of a Gk.-style building, 1664, alteration of periment, peremint (1592), apparently a dial. garbling of pyramid, the connection perhaps being the triangular shape. Sometimes associated with ped- "foot." But L. pedamentum meant "vine-stalk, prop," and It. pedamento at the time this word entered Eng. meant "foundation, basework, footing."
pedo-: from Gk. pedo-, comb. form of pais "boy, child," from PIE base *peu- "small, little, few, young" (see few (adj.)). The British form paed- is better because it avoids confusion with ped-.
pedometer: instrument for measuring distances covered by a walker, 1723, from Fr. pédomètre (1723), a hybrid coined from L. pedis (gen. of pes "foot") + Gk. metron (see meter (2)). At first Anglicized as waywiser.
pedophilia: 1905, from Gk. pais (gen. paidos) "child" (see pedo-) + philos "loving." First attested in Havelock Ellis. Derivative noun pedophile is first recorded 1951.
pee: 1788, "to urinate," euphemistic abbreviation of piss. Noun meaning "act of urination" is attested from 1902. Reduplicated form pee-pee is attested from 1923.