Etymology
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pliers (n.)

"small pincers with long jaws adapted for holding small articles," 1560s, plural agent noun from ply (v.2). French cognate plieur meant "folder."

Entries linking to pliers

ply (v.2)

"to bend, yield," late 14c., plien, from Old French plier, earlier pleier "to fold, bend," from Latin plicare "to lay, fold, twist" (from PIE root *plek- "to plait"). Related: Plied; plies; plying.

updated on July 11, 2020

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Dictionary entries near pliers

plexus

pliable

pliant

plie

plier

pliers

plight

Plimsoll

plink

plinth

plio-

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