Pick
/pɪk/noun
To choose, select, or remove something with a pointed tool or sharp motion.
Did you know?English pick is historically tied to a whole family of words for stabbing, pricking, and spikes, which is why it can mean both “choose” and “pierce.”
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
pician
“to prick or pierce”
Middle English
ME
pikken
“to pick, peck, or poke at”
14th Century
English
pick
“to poke, pierce, or work at with a pointed tool”
16th Century
English
pick
“to choose or select”
Modern English
English
pick
“to choose, gather, or remove with a pointed action”