pierceableadj.
/ˈpɪəsəbl/, U.S. /ˈpɪ(ə)rsəb(ə)l/ Capable of being pierced or pricked; penetrable.In quot. ?c1400: capable of penetrating, sharp.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [adjective] > having (a) hole(s) > bored, pierced, or perforated > with a sharp-pointed instrument > able to be
pierceable?c1400
thirlable1483
?c1400 tr. Secreta Secret. (Sloane) (1977) 11 (MED) He þat has eyghne of heuenli culour or blak..he es persable sone and light of vnderstondyng, curius and trewe.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Perceable or penetrable, or whyche may be perced, penetra[bi]lis.
1587 W. Fulbeck Bk. Christian Ethicks sig. C.1 O the exceeding felicitye of a Christian manne, whose onely wyll beeing directed by Gods will, is more pearceable then steele, and more impenetrable then the strong Rocke.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A4 Loftie trees..Not perceable with power of any starr.
1612 H. Peacham Minerua Britanna ii. 182 Those sad Groues..Whose thickest boughes, and inmost entries are Not peirceable, to power of any starre.
1615 S. Daniel Hymens Triumph iv. iii. 58 The woman..hauing veynes of nature, could not bee But peircible.
1765 F. Allen Compl. Eng. Dict. at Impenetrability The quality of being not pierceable.
1819 W. Hazlitt in Edinb. Mag. & Literary Misc. 5 13 He who has..a heart ‘pierceable’ by pleasure's finest point, is the best judge of music.
1859 Cornhill Mag. 1 72 Between the segments of the insect's armour, a soft and pierceable spot is found.
1941 Coshocton (Ohio) Tribune 23 Oct. 10/1 With the German army extended along hundreds of miles..Hitler's military frontier certainly is pierceable.
1995 P. Roth Sabbath's Theater 167 She pointed to her belly, a belly as pierceable as a small balloon.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.?c1400