English
pirate
Pirate comes from Ancient Greek πειρᾱτής ‘brigand, robber’, from πειράω ‘to make an attempt’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*périh₂reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*péřřareconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπεῖρᾰpeîră‘trial, experiment, attempt’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπειράωpeiráō‘to make an attempt’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπειρᾱτήςpeirātḗs‘brigand, robber’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpīrāta
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400pirate
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1904same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*périh₂reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*péřřareconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπεῖρᾰpeîră‘trial, experiment, attempt’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπειράωpeiráō‘to make an attempt’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπειρᾱτήςpeirātḗs‘brigand, robber’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpīrāta
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400pirate
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1904same form
Earliest quotation: 1904, Edward Elgar: “If a book is pirated there is a remedy…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *per-
before, first, support, far, per, report, further, price, press, fear, opportunity, pre, primary, practice, prior, prime, private, port, prize, afford, pregnant, ford, forth, appreciate, precious, practical, privilege, par, praise, ferry, interpretation, fare, parade, porch, pardon, primitive, prix, privy, prism, proton, 158 more
Today it means
noun A criminal who plunders at sea; commonly attacking merchant vessels, though often pillaging port towns.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *per- / pirate