n. 1 a solid medicine formed into a ball or a flat disc for swallowing whole. b (usu. prec. by the) colloq. a contraceptive pill. 2 an unpleasant or painful necessity; a humiliation (a bitter pill; must swallow the pill). 3 colloq. or joc. a ball, e.g. a football, a cannon-ball. sugar (or sweeten) the pill make an unpleasant necessity acceptable.
[ MDu., MLG pille prob. f. L pilula dimin. of pila ball ]