- pestle
- 1272, from O.Fr. pestel, from L. pistillum "pounder, pestle," related to pinsere "to pound," from PIE *pis-to-, suffixed form of base *peis- "to crush" (cf. Skt. pinasti "pounds, crushes," pistah "anything ground, meal," Gk. ptissein "to winnow," O.C.S. piso, pichati "to push, thrust, strike," pisenica "wheat," Rus. pseno "millet").