I. ˈpith noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pitha; akin to Middle Dutch & Middle Low German pit pith, pit
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a usually continuous central strand of spongy tissue in the stems of most vascular plants that probably functions chiefly in storage
b. : any of various loose spongy plant tissues that resemble true pith
c. : the soft or spongy interior of a part of the body
2.
a. : the essential part : core
b. : substantial quality (as of meaning)
3. : importance
II. transitive verb
Date: 1805
1.
a. : to kill (as cattle) by piercing or severing the spinal cord
b. : to destroy the spinal cord or central nervous system of (as a frog) usually by passing a wire or needle up and down the vertebral canal
2. : to remove the pith from (a plant stem)