pile

pile
{{11}}pile (n.1) "mass, heap," early 15c., "pillar, pier of a bridge," from L. pila "stone barrier." Sense development in Latin from "pier, harbor wall of stones," to "something heaped up." In English, sense of "heap of things" is attested from mid-15c. (the verb in this sense is recorded from mid-14c.). The meaning "large building" (late 14c.) is probably also derived from this word.
{{12}}pile (n.2) "heavy pointed beam," from O.E. pil "stake," also "arrow," from L. pilum heavy javelin of the Roman foot soldier, lit. "pestle" (source of O.N. pila, Ger. Pfeil "arrow"). Pile-driver in the figurative sense of "very strong hit" is recorded from 1958.
{{12}}pile (n.3) "soft, raised surface upon cloth," mid-14c., from Anglo-Fr. pyle or M.Du. pijl, both from L. pilus "hair." Phonological evidence rules out transmission via Old French cognate peil, poil.
{{13}}pile (v.) "to heap up," mid-14c.; see PILE (Cf. pile) (n.1). Related: Piled; piling. Figurative verbal expression pile on "attack vigorously" is from 1894, American English. Pile-up "multi-vehicle crash" first recorded 1929.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • pile — pile …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • pilé — pilé …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • pile — 1. (pi l ) s. f. 1°   Amas de choses placées les unes sur les autres. •   Leurs débris sont couverts d une pile de morts, MAIRET Mort d Asdrub. I, 3. •   Ils [la famille de M. le Prince] eurent tant de peur qu on ne s excusât faute de manteaux,… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Pile — Pile, n. [F. pile, L. pila a pillar, a pier or mole of stone. Cf. {Pillar}.] 1. A mass of things heaped together; a heap; as, a pile of stones; a pile of wood. [1913 Webster] 2. A mass formed in layers; as, a pile of shot. [1913 Webster] 3. A… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pile — Pile, n. [AS. p[=i]l arrow, stake, L. pilum javelin; but cf. also L. pila pillar.] 1. A large stake, or piece of timber, pointed and driven into the earth, as at the bottom of a river, or in a harbor where the ground is soft, for the support of a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pile — may refer to:*Pile foundation, type of deep foundation *Pile (textile), fabric with raised surface made of upright loops or strands of yarn ** Carpet pile * Nuclear pile, early term for a nuclear reactor, typically one constructed of graphite *… …   Wikipedia

  • Pile — ist der Name mehrerer Personen: Frederick Alfred Pile (1884–1976), britischer General im zweiten Weltkrieg William Anderson Pile (1829–1889), US amerikanischer General und Politiker Pile bezeichnet außerdem: Chicago Pile, den ersten Kernreaktor… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • pile — Ⅰ. pile UK US /paɪl/ noun [C] ► a large amount of something: »a pile of cash/money »consumers with piles of credit card debt » I have piles of paperwork to finish. ● at the bottom/top of the pile Cf. at the top of the pile → See also …   Financial and business terms

  • pile — Ⅰ. pile [1] ► NOUN 1) a heap of things laid or lying one on top of another. 2) informal a large amount. 3) a large imposing building. ► VERB 1) place (things) one on top of the other. 2) ( …   English terms dictionary

  • pile on — ● pile * * * pile on [phrasal verb] 1 pile on (something) : to put a large amount of (something) on something or someone He piled on the gravy. The teacher punished the class by piling on more work. [=the teacher punished the class by giving them …   Useful english dictionary

  • Pile — Pile, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Piled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Piling}.] 1. To lay or throw into a pile or heap; to heap up; to collect into a mass; to accumulate; to amass; often with up; as, to pile up wood. Hills piled on hills. Dryden. Life piled on… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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