Piston
/ˈpɪs.tən/noun
A sliding plug or plunger that moves back and forth inside a cylinder, especially in an engine or pump.
Did you know?Piston comes through French from Latin *pistō*, meaning “I pound” or “I crush,” so its name is literally tied to the act of beating and grinding.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peis-
“to pound, beat, crush”
Latin
Latin
pistō
“I pound, crush, or beat”
Late Latin
Latin
pistōn-
“a pestle or pounding tool”
Old French
Old French
piston
“a pestle”
17th Century
English
piston
“a pump plunger or moving plug in a cylinder”
Modern English
English
piston
“a sliding part that moves back and forth in a cylinder”