Pon⋅tius /ˈpɒnʃəs,-tiəs/Show Spelled Pronunciation[pon-shuhs,-tee-uhs]Show IPA, fl. early 1st century a.d., Roman procurator of Judea a.d. 26–36?: the final authority concerned in the condemnation and execution of Jesus Christ.
c.1400 as a term of reproach, from the Roman surname, esp. that of Pontius, a governor of Judaea, from L. Pilatus, lit. "armed with javelins," from pilum "javelin" (see pile (2)).