Pitch
/pɪtʃ/noun
A dark, sticky, tar-like substance; also a high musical note or a throwing action, depending on context.
Did you know?The tar sense of pitch comes from an old word for resinous resin/tar, while the musical and throwing senses developed separately, showing how one spelling can hide multiple histories.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*pikō / *pikaz
“A sticky resin, tar, or pitch-like substance”
Old English
English
pic
“Pitch, tar, or resinous matter”
Middle English
English
pich
“Pitch or tar”
Late Middle English
English
pitchen
“To set, throw, or fix in place; later to throw a ball”
16th Century
English
pitch
“A high point, level, or position in sound, especially in music”
Modern English
English
pitch
“Tar-like substance; to throw; to set a musical tone or level”