English
pew
Pew comes from Latin podia ‘a rope fastened to one of the lower corners of…’, from Ancient Greek πόδιον ‘little foot’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ped- ‘to walk, to step’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ped-‘to walk, to step’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pṓds‘foot’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπούς‘foot’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπόδιονpódion‘little foot’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpodia‘a rope fastened to one of the lower corners of a sail’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400puiee
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500pewe
- Englishearliest quotation 1659pew
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ped-‘to walk, to step’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pṓds‘foot’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπούς‘foot’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπόδιονpódion‘little foot’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpodia‘a rope fastened to one of the lower corners of a sail’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400puiee
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500pewe
- Englishearliest quotation 1659pew
Earliest quotation: 1659, John Milton, London: […] T[homas] N[ewcombe] for L[ivewell] Chapman […]: “[H]e, a lollard indeed over his elbovv-cuſhion, in almoſt…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ped- ‘to walk, to step’
pilot, expedition, fetch, footing, impeachment, footed, impediment, expedite, fet, ped, fetter, pada, 48 more
through Proto-Indo-European *pṓds ‘foot’
feet, foot, pie, pioneer, pawn, pedestrian, pedal, pug, pedigree, baht, impede, centipede, pedicure, pes, petiole, pedometer, peon, pedicel, quadruped, pedicle, biped, 37 more
through Ancient Greek πούς ‘foot’
through Ancient Greek πόδιον ‘little foot’
Today it means
noun One of the long benches in a church, seating several persons, usually fixed to the floor and facing the chancel.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ped- / pew