pea

Where does the word "pea" come from? It comes from Greek píson, passing through Latin and Old English before entering English (1600s).

Pea’s story begins in Greek: píson meant “pea.” The pea plant, probably borrowed from a pre-Greek language. By classical, the word had taken hold in Latin as pisum. Borrowed from Greek; Columella's farming manual gives advice on sowing it. From there it passed into Old English as pise, pease by medieval. A singular or mass noun, as in the rhyme 'Pease porridge hot'. It reached English by 1600s as pea. 'pease' sounded plural, so speakers back-formed a new singular, 'pea'. Today, pea means a small round green seed eaten as a vegetable.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient píson "pea", the pea plant, probably borrowed from a pre-Greek language.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · classical pisum "pea", borrowed from Greek; Columella's farming manual gives advice on sowing it.
3. Stage 3 · Old English · medieval pise, pease "pea(s)", a singular or mass noun, as in the rhyme 'Pease porridge hot'.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1600s pea "a single pea seed", 'pease' sounded plural, so speakers back-formed a new singular, 'pea'.