n. & v.
n. 1 spongy white tissue lining the rind of an orange, lemon, etc. 2 the essential part; the quintessence (came to the pith of his argument). 3 Bot. the spongy cellular tissue in the stems and branches of dicotyledonous plants. 4 a physical strength; vigour. b force; energy. 5 archaic spinal marrow.
v.tr. 1 remove the pith or marrow from. 2 slaughter or immobilize (an animal) by severing the spinal cord. pith helmet a lightweight sun-helmet made from the dried pith of the sola etc. pithless adj.
[ OE pitha f. WG ]