Origin: 1250–1300;Middle Englishpercen < Old Frenchperc(i)er < Vulgar Latin*pertūsiāre, verbal derivative of Latinpertūsus, past participle of pertundere to bore a hole through, perforate, equivalent to per-per- + tundere to strike, beat
Related forms
pierce·a·ble, adjective
pierc·er, noun
un·pierce·a·ble, adjective
Synonyms 1. enter, puncture. Pierce, penetrate suggest the action of one object passing through another or making a way through and into another. The terms are used both concretely and figuratively. To pierce is to perforate quickly, as by stabbing; it suggests the use of a sharp, pointed instrument which is impelled by force: to pierce the flesh with a knife; a scream pierces one's ears.Penetrate suggests a slow or difficult movement: No ordinary bullet can penetrate an elephant's hide; to penetrate the depths of one's ignorance.8. touch, move, strike, thrill.
c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. perser, O.Fr. percier (11c.), probably from V.L. *pertusiare, freq. of L. pertusus, pp. of pertundere "to thrust or bore through," from per- "through" + tundere "to beat, pound," from PIE base *(s)tud- "to beat, strike, push, thrust" (see obtuse). Piercing
in ref. to cold, sound, etc. is recorded from early 15c.