also pick-axe, "tool used for breaking up and digging ground," especially a pick with a sharp point on one side of the head and a broad blade on the other, early 15c., folk etymology alteration (by influence of axe) of Middle English picas, pikeis (mid-13c.), via Anglo-French piceis, Old French pocois (11c.) and directly from Medieval Latin picosa "pick," which is related to Latin picus "woodpecker" (see pie (n.2)).
"chosen for excellence, specially selected," hence "choicest, best," 1540s, past-participle adjective from pick (v.).
also nit-pick, "seek petty faults," 1962, a back-formation from earlier nitpicker. Related: Nitpicking (1956); nitpicky.
also no show, "someone who fails to keep an appointment or claim a reservation," by 1941, from no + show (v.), in the "show up, appear" sense. Originally airline jargon, in reference to the commercial airlines' no-show list, of "people who make reservations, are in a great hurry and say they will pick up their tickets at the field. Then they fail to call in and cancel their seats and never show up at the field." ["Popular Aviation," December 1934]
also piggy-back, "on the shoulders or back like a pack or bundle," 1823, probably a folk etymology alteration of colloquial pickapack, pick pack (1560s) "on the back or shoulders like a pack," which perhaps is from pick, a dialectal variant of pitch (v.1). As a verb, "to ride piggyback," by 1952.
also pick-up, "that which is picked up," 1848; see pick up (v.). As "act of picking up" from 1882. Meaning "capacity for acceleration" is from 1909; that of "recovery" is from 1916. In reference to a game between informal teams chosen on the spot, from 1905; as an adjective, "composed of such things as are immediately available," by 1859.
Meaning "small truck used for light loads," 1937, is shortened from pickup truck (pickup body is attested from 1928). The notion probably being of a vehicle for use to "pick up" (feed, lumber, etc.) and deliver it where it was wanted.
1520s, "omit to do or perform;" 1530s, "treat carelessly or heedlessly, treat with disrespect or without proper attention or care;" from Latin neglectus, past participle of neglegere "to make light of, disregard, be indifferent to, not heed, not trouble oneself about," literally "not to pick up," variant of neclegere, from Old Latin nec "not" (from PIE root *ne- "not") + legere "pick up, select," from PIE root *leg- (1) "to collect, gather." Related: Neglected; neglecting.
before vowels log-, word-forming element meaning "speech, word," also "reason," from Greek logos "word, discourse; reason," from PIE root *leg- (1) "to collect, gather," with derivatives meaning "to speak (to 'pick out words')."
