pierce

Meaning

Verb

1. To puncture; to break through.
2. To create a hole in the skin for the purpose of inserting jewelry.
3. to break or interrupt abruptly
4. To get to the heart or crux of (a matter).
5. To penetrate; to affect deeply.

Noun

A pierced earring.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɪɹs/

Etymology

From Middle English perce, from conjugated forms of Old French percier such as (jeo) pierce (“I pierce”), probably from Vulgar Latin *pertūsiō, from Latin pertūsus, past participle of pertundō (“thrust or bore through”), from per- (“through”) + tundō (“beat, pound”). Displaced native Old English þȳrlian (literally “to hole”).