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pile²

(pīl)

1. A heavy post of timber, concrete, or steel, driven into the earth as a foundation or support for a structure.

2. Heraldry A wedge-shaped charge pointing downward.

3. A Roman javelin.

tr.v. piled, pil·ing, piles

1. To drive piles into.

2. To support with piles.

[Middle English, from Old English pīl, shaft, stake, from Latin pīlum, spear, pestle.]

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pile²

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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