PIQUE

pique

(noun) tightly woven fabric with raised cords

pique, temper, irritation

(noun) a sudden outburst of anger; “his temper sparked like damp firewood”

pique, offend

(verb) cause to feel resentment or indignation; “Her tactless remark offended me”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

pique (countable and uncountable, plural piques)

A feeling of enmity; ill-feeling, animosity; a transient feeling of wounded pride.

A feeling of irritation or resentment, awakened by a social slight or injury; offence, especially taken in an emotional sense with little thought or consideration.

(obsolete) Keenly felt desire; a longing.

Verb

pique (third-person singular simple present piques, present participle piquing, simple past and past participle piqued)

(transitive) To wound the pride of; to excite to anger.

Synonyms: sting, nettle, irritate, fret

(reflexive) To take pride in; to pride oneself on.

(transitive) To stimulate (a feeling, emotion); to offend by slighting; to excite (someone) to action by causing resentment or jealousy.

Synonyms: excite, stimulate

Etymology 2

Noun

pique (plural piques)

(card games) In piquet, the right of the elder hand to count thirty in hand, or to play before the adversary counts one.

Verb

pique (third-person singular simple present piques, present participle piquing, simple past and past participle piqued)

(card games, transitive) To score a pique against.

Etymology 3

Noun

pique (plural piques)

A chigger or jigger, Tunga penetrans.

Etymology 4

Noun

pique (countable and uncountable, plural piques)

A durable ribbed fabric made from cotton, rayon, or silk.

Anagrams

• Equip., equip, pequi

Source: Wiktionary


Pi`qué", n. Etym: [F., p.p. of piquer to prick.]

Definition: A cotton fabric, figured in the loom, -- used as a dress goods for women and children, and for vestings, etc.

Pique, n. (Zoöl.)

Definition: The jigger. See Jigger.

Pique, n. Etym: [F., fr. piquer. See Pike.]

1. A feeling of hurt, vexation, or resentment, awakened by a social slight or injury; irritation of the feelings, as through wounded pride; stinging vexation. Men take up piques and displeasures. Dr. H. More. Wars had arisen . . . upon a personal pique. De Quincey.

2. Keenly felt desire; a longing. Though it have the pique, and long, 'Tis still for something in the wrong. Hudibras.

3. (Card Playing)

Definition: In piquet, the right of the elder hand to count thirty in hand, or to play before the adversary counts one.

Syn.

– Displeasure; irritation; grudge; spite. Pique, Spite, Grudge. Pique denotes a quick and often transient sense of resentment for some supposed neglect or injury, but it is not marked by malevolence. Spite is a stronger term, denoting settled ill will or malice, with a desire to injure, as the result of extreme irritation. Grudge goes still further, denoting cherished and secret enmity, with an unforgiving spirit. A pique is usually of recent date; a grudge is that which has long subsisted; spite implies a disposition to cross or vex others.

Pique, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Piqued; p. pr. & vb. n. Piquing.] Etym: [F. piquer. See Pike.]

1. To wound the pride of; to sting; to nettle; to irritate; to fret; to offend; to excite to anger. Pique her, and soothe in turn. Byron.

2. To excite to action by causing resentment or jealousy; to stimulate; to prick; as, to pique ambition, or curiosity. Prior.

3. To pride or value; -- used reflexively. Men . . . pique themselves upon their skill. Locke.

Syn.

– To offend; displease; irritate; provoke; fret; nettle; sting; goad; stimulate.

Pique, v. i.

Definition: To cause annoyance or irritation. "Every piques." Tatler.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

22 January 2025

MEGALITH

(noun) memorial consisting of a very large stone forming part of a prehistoric structure (especially in western Europe)


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.

coffee icon