I. ˈpesəl also -st ə l noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English pestel, from Middle French, from Latin pistillum; akin to Middle Low German vīsel pestle, Latin pilum pestle, javelin, pinsere to pound, crush, Greek ptissein to crush, Sanskrit pinaṣṭi he pounds, crushes
1.
a. : a usually club-shaped implement for pounding or grinding substances especially in a mortar
b. : any of various devices for pounding, stamping, or pressing
2. dialect chiefly England : the leg or a part of the leg of an animal used for food
[s]pestle.jpg[/s] [
pestle 1 (with mortar)
]
II. verb
( pestled ; pestled ; pestling -s(ə)liŋ also -st( ə )l- ; pestles )
Etymology: Middle English pestelen, from Middle French pesteler, from Old French, from pestel, n.
transitive verb
: to beat, pound, or pulverize with or as if with a pestle
intransitive verb
: to work with a pestle : use a pestle