Pivot
/ˈpɪv.ət/noun
A central pin or point on which something turns, or a key point of change or action.
Did you know?“Pivot” entered English from French as a term for a pin or axle, and its deeper ancestry is tied to Latin words for a peg or stake—proof that even modern business buzzwords began as literal turning hardware.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
papillō
“a peg or pin”
Old French
Old French
pivot
“a pin, axle, or hinge-pin”
14th-15th Century
English
pivot
“a pin or shaft on which something turns”
17th-18th Century
English
pivot
“the central point or turning point of an action or argument”
Modern English
English
pivot
“a central point, support, or strategic change in direction”