pit

pit

☆ pit¹ [pit ]

n.

[Du < MDu pitte, akin to PITH]

the hard stone, as of the plum, peach, or cherry, which contains the seed

vt.

pitted, pitting

to remove the pit from (a fruit)

pit² [pit]

n.

[ME < OE pytt < early WGmc & NGmc * puttia (> ON pyttr, Ger pfütze) < L puteus, well, prob. < IE base * pēu-, to chop, cut > L pavire, to beat, strike]

1. a hole or cavity in the ground

2. an abyss

3. hell: used with the

4. a covered hole used to trap wild animals; pitfall

5. any concealed danger; trap; snare

6. an enclosed area in which animals are kept or made to fight [a bear pit]

7.

a) the shaft of a coal mine

b) the coal mine itself

8. a hollow or depression on a part of the human body [armpit]

9. a small hollow in a surface; specif., a depressed scar on the skin, as that resulting from smallpox

10. an area below floor level or ground level

11. Brit.

a) the ground floor of a theater, esp. the part at the rear

b) the spectators in that section

12. the section, often below floor level, in front of the stage, where the orchestra sits

☆ 13. the part of the floor of an exchange where a special branch of business is transacted [corn pit ]

14.

☆ a) a work area for mechanics, often below floor level, for repairing and servicing automotive vehicles

b) the area along the side of a track where racing cars make their pit stops

15. Bot. a tiny depression in a plant cell wall

vt.

pitted, pitting

1. to put, cast, or store in a pit

2. to make pits in

3. to mark with small scars [pitted by smallpox]

4. to set (cocks, etc.) in a pit to fight

5. to set in competition (against)

vi.

1. to become marked with pits

☆ 2. to make a pit stop during an auto race

——————

the pits

1. Slang the worst possible thing, place, condition, etc.

☆ 2. PIT² (n. 14b)