PESTLE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English pestel, from Anglo-French, from Latin pistillum, from pinsere to pound, crush; akin to Greek ptissein to crush, Sanskrit pinaṣṭi he pounds Date: 14th century a usually club-shaped implement for pounding or grinding substances in a mortar, any of various devices for pounding, stamping, or pressing, II. verb (~d; pestling) Date: 15th century transitive verb to beat, pound, or pulverize with or as if with a ~, intransitive verb to work with a ~ ; use a ~