Pitfall
/ˈpɪt.fɔːl/noun
A hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty.
Did you know?Pitfall is a transparent English compound, and its power comes from the image itself: a concealed pit used to catch prey or enemies, which later became a metaphor for any unseen danger.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
pytt
“a pit, hole, or excavation”
Old English
OE
feallan
“to fall, collapse, or drop”
Middle English
ME
pitte-falle
“a pit that one falls into; a hidden trap”
16th Century
English
pitfall
“a concealed pit used as a trap; a danger or snare”
Modern English
English
pitfall
“a hidden danger, difficulty, or source of failure”
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