pique

Where does the word "pique" come from? It comes from Old French pic, passing through French before entering English (1530s-1670s).

Pique’s story begins in Old French: pic meant “a sharp point, spike.” A word for a sharp point or spike. By medieval, the word had taken hold in French as piquer. The related verb, meaning to prick or sting, developed a figurative sense of irritating. By 1500s, French speakers had reshaped it into pique. The noun named the sting of wounded pride. It reached English by 1530s-1670s as pique. Entered as a noun for wounded self-respect, later also as a verb meaning to stimulate or excite. Today, pique means a feeling of irritation or resentment, especially due to wounded pride.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval pic "a sharp point, spike", a word for a sharp point or spike.
2. Stage 2 · French · medieval piquer "to prick, sting; to irritate", the related verb, meaning to prick or sting, developed a figurative sense of irritating.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s pique "a prick; a feeling of resentment", the noun named the sting of wounded pride.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1530s-1670s pique "a feeling of irritation from wounded pride", entered as a noun for wounded self-respect, later also as a verb meaning to stimulate or excite.