pier

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
See also: Pier and píer

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

Night Scene of Pier 9, Central Piers, Hong Kong
A small pier at a campsite in Canada

From Middle English pere (bridge pillar), from Medieval Latin pera, from Old Northern French pire (breakwater), from Vulgar Latin *petricus, from Latin petra, from Ancient Greek πέτρα (pétra, stone).

Pronunciation

Noun

pier (plural piers)

  1. A raised platform built from the shore out over water, supported on piles; used to secure, or provide access to shipping; a jetty.
    Your boat is docked at the pier.
  2. A similar structure, especially at a seaside resort, used to provide entertainment.
    There is a gaming arcade on the pier.
    • 2023 March 22, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Island Line to reopen to Ryde Pier in June... possibly”, in RAIL, number 979, page 24:
      Ryde Pier's claim to fame is being the world's oldest seaside pleasure pier, with construction starting in 1813.
  3. A structure supporting the junction between two spans of a bridge.
    • 1961 January, “Talking of Trains: The Severn Bridge disaster”, in Trains Illustrated, page 5:
      The force of the explosion demolished one pair of piers and two spans of the bridge crashed down into the river on top of the barges.
  4. (architecture) A rectangular pillar, or similar structure, that supports an arch, wall or roof, or the hinges of a gate.
    Coordinate term: pile

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

Anagrams

Dutch

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch pier, probably from the name Pierre.

Noun

pier m (plural pieren, diminutive piertje n)

  1. (zoology) a worm, earthworm (in Flanders)

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English pier.

Noun

pier m (plural pieren, diminutive piertje n)

  1. (architecture) a pier, jetty
Derived terms
Descendants
  • Papiamentu: pir
See also

Etymology 3

Unknown; Flanders only

Alternative forms

Noun

pier m (plural pieren, diminutive piertje n)

  1. (archaic) a physical trap
  2. (archaic) a figurative trap, ambush
  3. (archaic) a place one is trapped in:
    1. a prison
    2. a rabbit den
Derived terms

Verb

pier

  1. inflection of pieren:
    1. first-person singular present indicative
    2. (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
    3. imperative

References

  • M. J. Koenen & J. Endepols, Verklarend Handwoordenboek der Nederlandse Taal (tevens Vreemde-woordentolk), Groningen, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969 (26th edition) [Dutch dictionary in Dutch]

Anagrams

Latin

Verb

pier

  1. first-person singular present passive subjunctive of piō

Middle English

Noun

pier

  1. Alternative form of pere (peer)

Adjective

pier

  1. Alternative form of pere (equal)

Romanian

Verb

pier

  1. first-person singular present indicative/subjunctive of pieri

Romansch

Alternative forms

Noun

pier f (plural piers)

  1. (Sutsilvan) beer, ale

Synonyms

Slovak

Pronunciation

Noun

pier

  1. genitive plural of pero
  2. genitive plural of pera