Pimple
/ˈpɪm.pəl/noun
A small inflamed swelling of the skin, especially a spot of acne.
Did you know?Pimple is part of a long Germanic word family tied to swelling and bulging, not magic—but it’s a perfect example of how everyday body words can survive for centuries almost unchanged.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhel-
“to swell, blow, or bubble up”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*pimpl- / *pamp-
“a swelling or bump”
Old English
Old English
pimpel
“a pimple or small swelling”
Middle English
Middle English
pimple
“a pimple, spot, or small protuberance”
Modern English
English
pimple
“a small inflamed swelling of the skin”