puncture

Where does the word "puncture" come from? It comes from Latin pungere, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Puncture’s story begins in Latin: pungere meant “to prick, to pierce.” The root of 'point', 'punctual' and 'pungent'. Within Latin, it grew into punctura by ancient. A pricking, a piercing, from pungere. It reached English by 1400s as puncture. Settled as the English word for a small hole made by a sharp object. Today, puncture means a small hole made by a sharp, pointed object.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pungere "to prick, to pierce", the root of 'point', 'punctual' and 'pungent'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient punctura "a pricking, a piercing", a pricking, a piercing, from pungere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s puncture "a small hole made by a sharp, pointed object", settled as the English word for a small hole made by a sharp object.