pie

Etymology 1

From Middle English pye, pie, pey, perhaps from Old English *pīe (“pastry”) (compare Old English pīe, pēo (“insect, bug”)), attested in early Middle English piehus (“bakery”, literally “pie-house”) c. 1199. Relation to Medieval Latin pica, pia (“pie, pastry”) is unclear, as there are no similar terms found in any Romance languages; therefore, like Irish pióg (“pie”), the Latin term may have been simply borrowed from the English. Some sources state the word comes from Latin pīca (“magpie, jay”) (from the idea of the many ingredients put into pies likened to the tendency of magpies to bring a variety of objects back to their nests), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peyk- (“woodpecker; magpie”), though this has its controversies. However, if so, then it is a doublet of pica.

noun

1. A type of pastry that consists of an outer crust and a filling.
   The family had steak and kidney pie for dinner and cherry pie for dessert.
2. Any of various other, non-pastry dishes that maintain the general concept of a shell with a filling.
   Shepherd's pie is made of mince covered with mashed potato.
3. (Northeastern US) A pizza.
4. A paper plate covered in cream, shaving foam or custard that is thrown or rubbed in someone’s face for comical purposes, to raise money for charity, or as a form of political protest; a custard pie; a cream pie.
5. (figurative) The whole of a wealth or resource, to be divided in parts.
   It is easier to get along when everyone, more or less, is getting ahead. But when the pie is shrinking, social groups are more likely to turn on each other. 2010-12-04, Evan Thomas, “Why It’s Time to Worry”, in Newsweek
6. (letterpress typography) A disorderly mess of spilt type.
7. (cricket) An especially badly bowled ball.
8. A pie chart.
   Pies are best for comparing the components of only one or two totals. 1986, Carolyn Sorensen, Henry J. Stock, Department of Education Computer Graphics Guide, page 8
9. (slang) The vulva.
   "Yeah, take it off!" "SHOW US YOUR PIE!" The brunette opened the catch on her G-string and let the sequinned cloth slip down, teasing them with it. 1981, William Kotzwinkle, Jack in the Box
   Yeah, some guys like to eat the old hairy pie. Women, too, or so I've heard. 2010, W. A. Moltinghorne, Magnolia Park, page 238

verb

1. (transitive) To hit in the face with a pie, either for comic effect or as a means of protest (see also pieing).
   I'd like to see someone pie the chairman of the board.
2. (transitive) To go around (a corner) in a guarded manner.
3. (transitive) (of printing types) To reduce to confusion; to jumble.
   The door of the [printing] shop was shattered. He went in. The presses were broken. The type pied. 1943, Esther Forbes Hoskins, Johnny Tremain

Etymology 2

From Middle English pye, from Old French pie, from Latin pīca, feminine of pīcus (“woodpecker”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peyk- (“woodpecker; magpie”). Cognate with speight.

noun

1. (obsolete) Magpie.

Etymology 3

From Hindi पाई (pāī, “quarter”), from Sanskrit पादिका (pādikā).

noun

1. (historical) The smallest unit of currency in South Asia, equivalent to ¹⁄₁₉₂ of a rupee or ¹⁄₁₂ of an anna.
   I gave him all the money in my possession, Rs.9.8.5. – nine rupees, eight annas, and five pie – for I always keep small change as bakshish when I am in camp. 1888, Rudyard Kipling, “The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes”, in The Phantom ’Rickshaw and Other Tales, Folio Society, published 2005, page 117

Etymology 4

From Hindi पाहि (pāhi, “migrant farmer, passer-through”), from Sanskrit पार्श्व (pārśva, “side, vicinity”).

noun

1. (zoology) Ellipsis of pie-dog: an Indian breed, a stray dog in Indian contexts.

Etymology 5

From Spanish pie (“foot, Spanish foot”), from Latin pēs (“foot, Roman foot”), from Proto-Indo-European *pṓds.

noun

1. (historical) A traditional Spanish unit of length, equivalent to about 27.9 cm.