I. ˈpith, dial ˈpeth noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English pithe, pith, from Old English pitha; akin to Middle Dutch & Middle Low German pit, pitte pith, pit (of a fruit)
1.
a.
(1) : a usually continuous central strand of predominantly parenchymatous tissue that occurs in the stems of most vascular plants and some roots as part of the primary tissue system, is typically surrounded by vascular tissue, prob. functions chiefly in storage, and may disappear leaving a void in some plants (as many umbellifers)
(2) : a slender soft core at the center of the heartwood of many logs consisting of the dried remains of the pith
b. : any of various loose spongy plant tissues that resemble true pith
the white pith lining the skin of an orange
c. : the soft or spongy interior of a part of the body: as
(1) archaic : the spinal cord or bone marrow
(2) : the medulla of a hair
(3) : the spongy interior of a feather
2.
a.
(1) : the essential part of something : essence , core , marrow
individuality, which was the very pith of liberty — H.J.Laski
(2) : the very center : heart
people who live in the thick of politics and in the pith of society — Francis Hackett
b. : substantial quality (as of meaning or content) : solidity , meatiness
made a speech that lacked pith
3. archaic : vigor , energy , strength
took the pith out of my legs — R.L.Stevenson
4. : importance , weightiness
enterprises of great pith and moment — Shakespeare
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1.
a. : to kill (as cattle) by piercing or severing the spinal cord at or near the axis
b. : to destroy the spinal cord or entire central nervous system of (as a frog) usually by passing a wire or needle up and down the vertebral canal
2.
a. : to remove the pith from
a plant stem that had been pithed
b. : to draw out : sap , extract
could pith so much of the vigor out of his body — C.E.Montague