| 释义 |
pitchn.1 Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Middle Dutch pec , pic (Dutch pek , pik ), Old Saxon pik (Middle Low German pik , pek , pēk ), Old High German beh , peh (Middle High German pech , bech , German Pech ), also (probably < Middle Low German) Old Icelandic bik < classical Latin pic- , pix sticky, resinous substance obtained from the distillation of wood tar, viscous substance of mineral origin, asphalt < the same Indo-European base as ancient Greek πίσσα (Attic πίττα : see pissasphalt n.), Old Church Slavonic pĭcĭlŭ, Old Russian p′k″l″ (Russian peklo).With sense 2b compare classical Latin picea pitch tree, spruce (see piceaster n.). With pitch-coloured adj. at Compounds 1b compare slightly earlier pitchy-coloured adj. at pitchy adj.1 Compounds 1a. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > processed resinous materials > [noun] > pitch α. eOE (1974) 43 Pix picis, pic. OE tr. Defensor (1969) xvii. 163 Qui tetigerit picem iniquinabitur ab ea : se þe æthrinð pic byð besmiten fram him. a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) 245 in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 175 (MED) Þer is burnunde pich, hore saule to baþien inne. c1275 in C. Brown (1932) 53 (MED) In ful a bitter bað baþien ich schal naked, Of pisch & of brimeston. c1330 (Auch.) (1933) 1270 (MED) Þe wise man dede make a dich Ful of lim and of pich. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) viii. 1109 (MED) Let make a cofre strong of bord, That it be ferm with led and pich. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 241 Of picche is double maner of kynde; þe oon hatte schippe picche, for schippes beþ y-pycched þer with..to kepe þat water schal nouȝt come in to þe schippe, and picche y-molte is y-cleped picche liquida, And eyther kynde of picche is hoot and drye, and þe harde picche is componed in oon manere and þe fletyng..in an oþer manere, and many clepeþ þis fletynge pycche..pix greca, picche of grees [L. colophonia vel pix greca], for in grees is mochel þer of y-founde. 1496 in M. Oppenheim (1896) 174 Laying on of piche. a1500 (?a1450) (BL Add. 9066) (1879) 381 They tokyn þe soule and putt it in a Cawderowne full of wellyng piche and brymstone. 1569 R. Grafton II. 362 Piche, Tarre, Rosen, Ropes. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. vi. 57 Place barrelles of pitch vpon the fatall stake. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton xi. 731 A Vessel of huge bulk,..Smeard round with Pitch . View more context for this quotation 1744 G. Berkeley (ESTC T72826) §13 Liquid pitch..or tar was obtained by setting fire to billets of old fat pines or firs. 1777 G. White 1 Aug. (1970) x. 141 That notus odor..is confounded by the strong sense of pitch & tar wherewith they are newly marked. 1836 F. Marryat III. ix. 187 The very smell of pitch and tar has become odious to me. c1860 H. Stuart (rev. ed.) 58 Pitch is tar boiled with a certain quantity of water and with a portion of coarse resin melted with it. 1929 R. Hughes iv. 113 Where the deck was unsheltered, the pitch boiled out of the seams. 1993 Jan. 16/2 Piñon also provided the Indians with pitch, which they used for everything from setting turquoise jewelry to waterproofing water jugs. 2. society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > other vegetable materials > plant resin > [noun] > oleoresins from coniferous trees eOE (Royal) (1865) i. iv. 44 Wiþ þon ilcan eft beren melo & hluttor pic & weax, & ele meng tosomne. ?a1200 (?OE) (1896) 45 Nim gladenan and hlutter pic and meng togadere and do to ele and wex. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 240v Þe pyne..takeþ soone fuyre..for out þer of comeþ picche. c1440 54 (MED) Tak..lely & henbayne..wax, white pik, þat þir spicers calles pik album, & fresche grese of a swyn. 1495 (de Worde) xvii. cxxiii. 685 Pytche..is droppynge of the pyne tree. 1567 J. Maplet f. 57 The Pine tree..is sayde to sweate, and to droppe forth Pitch. 1614 G. Markham Table Hard Words Pitch of Burgundy is Rossen, and the blacker the better. 1808 9 Nov. A pine post, fat with pitch, had taken fire. 1858 R. M. Ballantyne xv. 174 We collected a large quantity of pitch from the bread-fruit tree, with which, when boiled in our old iron pot, we payed the whole of the inside of the boat. 1907 June 763/2 They took some pitch off the pine trees. 1982 W. L. Heat Moon vi. v. 225 A farmer would bore two holes in the trunk, one horizontal and a second slanting into the other to provide a draft; he fired the pitch in the first hole, and a two-hundred-foot fir became a living wick. the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > conifers > [noun] > pines and allies > pitch-pines 1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer 141 The soil..besides Birch~trees, hath Fir and Pitch. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil 89 Narycian Woods of Pitch, whose gloomy shade, Seems for retreat of thoughtful Muses made! View more context for this quotation the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > hydrocarbon minerals > [noun] > bitumen > asphalt society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > mineral material > mineral and fossil resins > [noun] > bitumen or pitch society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > mineral material > mineral and fossil resins > [noun] > bitumen or pitch > asphalt a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Gen. vi. 14 Make thou to thee a schip of trees..and thou schalt anoynte it with pitche [a1425 Corpus Oxf. glew; L. bitumine] with ynne and with outforth. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 50 (MED) Sum men callez it [sc. the Dead Sea] þe Lac Asfaltit, þat es to say, þe Lac of Pikke. ?c1475 (BL Add. 15562) f. 95 Pike,..bitumen, bituminatus. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria iii. viii. f. 134v They gather pytche whiche sweateth owte of the rockes. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta iii. xvii. 173 At the point of Cape S. Helaine, there is a spring or fountaine of pitch. 1705 T. Greenhill iii. 356 There was a Field in Egypt whose Ditches were full of Pitch and liquid Bitumen. 1720 E. Lloyd tr. J. Chardin II. vii. 83 Towards the Frontiers of Arabia..there are whole Rows, from whence you may gather that sort of Pitch which we call Bitumen. 1831 T. P. Jones xxviii. 289 Asphaltum, sometimes called Jew's pitch, is a much purer bitumen than common pitch. It is found on the banks of the Dead Sea, and in..Trinidad, forming large beds in the earth. 1836 R. M. Martin I. Trinidad 194 The pitch at the sides of the lake is perfectly hard and cold, but as one walks towards the middle..the pitch becomes softer. 1938 R. Hum xxvi. 711 Asphalt, or mineral pitch, is considered to be the residue from the natural evaporation of petroleum, which has escaped from the earth. 1990 P. Kearey & F. J. Vine ii. 28 When left for a period of months..a block of pitch deforms slowly by flowing. Phrasesthe world > matter > colour > named colours > black or blackness > [adjective] > typically black > as pitch ?a1300 Vision St. Paul (Digby) 75 in (1879) 62 403/2 (MED) Þer is a water hot..blacore þen þe swarte pich. c1330 (Auch.) (1882) 483 (MED) Vernagu..loked loþeliche, & was swart as piche. c1380 (1879) 2461 (MED) Þan lai he þar so blac so pych. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) 11540 (MED) Whan þou synnest, þou turnest wyk, And makest þy soule black as pyk. a1475 (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 10158 (MED) It is a deuel of helle wicke, Loþely and blak as any picke. c1475 St. Patrick's Purgatory (Yale Beinecke 365) in L. T. Smith (1886) 98 (MED) A woll mych wattyr he say before, That was brod and blake as pyke. 1568 T. Howell 22 O be not white through enuious wrath, against the captiues wise: Nor be thou sharpe to sorrow them, least black as pitch thou rise. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán ii. 117 It growes darke as pitch. 1685 (1817) i. 11 Twa tups,..Wi' sconces black as pick. 1751 R. Morris Life John Daniel in (1926) I. xvi. 189 It being night, and the cavity of astonishing depth, is [sic] was as dark as pitch at the bottom. 1785 F. Pilon ii. 30 A most delicious time to take a walk I must confess, when it's as dark as pitch, and blows a perfect hurricane. 1838 J. H. Ingraham I. i. iii. 49 Oh! I looked out, and there was the old enemy, black as pitch, with horns, and hoofs, and tail. 1881 J. Sargisson 204 It was seunn as dark as pick. 1918 Jan. 4/1 The night's as dark as pitch. 1996 Apr. 131/1 Dirty movies mirror all human life: fat girls, thin girls, amputees, skin from black as pitch to white with purple spots on. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xiii. 1 Who shal touche pich, shal be defoulid of it. c1390 G. Chaucer 854 Who so toucheth warm pych, it shent his fyngres. c1475 (c1450) P. Idley (Cambr.) (1935) ii. B. 2063 (MED) He that handelith picche shall not eschewe But that he shal be defouled therof somdell. 1579 E. Spenser May 74 Who touches Pitch mought needes be defilde. a1645 R. Baker (1662) 33 When sins are actually committed, they are as Pitch which toucheth us, and must needs defile us. 1726 J. Barker 129 Defil'd in touching such Pitch. 1824 xi We canna touch pick But some o't will stick. 1851 H. Barnard 170 Who can touch pitch and be clean? 1886 ‘H. Conway’ xx I was touching pitch, yet striving to keep myself from being defiled. 1959 P. H. Johnson (1961) 44 If he touches pitch and is defiled, then he must endure the defilement. 2002 (Nexis) 15 Sept. 66 Here is a writer willing to touch pitch and risk being defiled. Compounds C1. a. 1881 9 163 Pitch-bag [in Cornwall], a bag covered with pitch, in which powder is inclosed for charging damp holes. 1598 W. Shakespeare iii. i. 192 With two pitch balles stucke in her face for eyes. View more context for this quotation 1793 Decade 2nd 7 542 I never found that pitch balls, gold leaf, fine threads, or any other light bodies..manifested the slightest appearances of attraction or repulsion. 1879 J. A. Froude xix. 315 Pitch-balls, torches, faggots..to feed the flames. 1963 76 39 When she is gone, Old Lady makes pitch ball, hides it behind post. 1392 (P.R.O.: C 145/251/5) m. 8 Un. Piche barell. 1708 Ld. Shaftesbury 45 To bring [the Christians]..upon the Stage in a pleasanter way than that of Bear-Skins and Pitch-Barrels. 1979 94 1070 Mus in pice. A mouse in a pitch barrel. The more one struggles to escape from textuality, the more surely one implicates oneself in it. 1803 in (1806) 15 56 Cabin keepers, oakum boys, and pitch heaters. 1953 6 141 The total of 800 [dockyard workers] at Chatham in August 1665 includes..a scatter of plumbers and pump-makers, coopers and pitch-heaters. 1997 (Nexis) 1 Dec. In respect of the use away from the insured's own premises of..hot air strippers or asphalt bitumen tar or pitch heaters the following precautions will be complied with. 1726 G. Shelvocke vii. 245 The pitch-ladle, and covers of the ship's coppers were converted into frying pans. 1736 8 May 4/2 Pitch ladles, painted floor cloths, all sorts of mens & womens shoes in trunks. 1853 W. T. Brande 204/1 When the seams are caulked, melted pitch is poured on the seams of the decks out of a pitch ladle. 1701 Law-Lat. Dict. in F. O. A Pitch-pit, picaria, æ, f. 1954 16 439 Pitch-pit, dflm, and workmen's shops, nhmt, and mud-bank, ṣayhurim, for to repair the ramp and the dyke. 1838 C. Dickens III. xlvi. 203 Wine stains,..pitch stains, any stains—all come out at one rub with the..composition. 1992 (Nexis) 8 Aug. g15 I reported on some tests I had conducted to see how well various sealers worked in preventing pitch stains from wood knots bleeding through paint. 1838 1 162/2 The apparatus..which I use for this purpose, is similar to what is called a pitch-still, which is made of copper, and well known. b. 1871 Ld. Tennyson Last Tournament in Dec. 3 With blunt stump Pitch-blacken'd sawing the air. 1923 R. Frost 24–6 I armed myself against such bones as might be With the pitch-blackened stub of an ax-handle. 2000 13 187 Also carried on the wind were ashes swirling over the many thousands of pitch-blackened hectares of winter forage deliberately set ablaze. the world > matter > colour > named colours > black or blackness > [adjective] > typically black > as pitch 1601 A. Munday & H. Chettle sig. E Pitch coloured, Eban fac't, blacker than blacke. 1796 R. Heron tr. A.-F. de Fourcroy III. 90 Black, or pitch-coloured copper ore. 1991 14 107 A small, doll-like figure.., its pitch-colored torso and head crudely carved out of wood. 1858 Feb. 172/2 A garden fenced with brown sea-seasoned wood..showing many a pitch-lined seam. 1896 11 July 6/1 Old Piggins, and leathern pitch-lined beer ‘jacks’, with other like traditional utensils. 1996 (Soc. for Promotion Hellenic Stud.) No. 42. 98/2 The interior of the hull was pitch-lined. 1836 T. Hook xix. 361 My abstract notions of a ship had previously combined something dirty, and pitch-smelling, and smoky below and wet above. 2003 (Nexis) 10 May a11 Sometimes, in the dry and pitch-smelling woodshed..you can find the piled sawdust leavings of the pine-borers. 1893 June 713/2 Then you see how pitch-stained hands can be gentle, and rough hearts generous. 1929 Jan. 69/1 My pitch-stained fingers trembled when they turned to this treasure. 2000 (Nexis) 2 Dec. 7 Don't let Chris Bay's pitch-stained hands and taped knuckles scare you away from making your own wreath and garland this holiday season. C2. the world > matter > colour > named colours > black or blackness > [adjective] > typically black > as pitch 1598 J. Marston ii. v. sig. E4v Tuscus..Hath drawne false lights from pitch-black loueries. 1768 A. Ross i. 58 Grim an' ghastly an' pick black. 1850 D. J. Browne 237 The head..and tail, are pitch-black. 1925 W. Cather iii. iv. 276 When St. Peter at last awoke, the room was pitch-black and full of gas. 1938 E. Goudge (1998) i. 8 He had fallen asleep still trembling, and woken up in the pitch black of the hour before the dawn. 1993 Feb. 51/3 ‘The War of the Roses’..was DeVito's pitch-black comic ode to marital disharmony. 1857 23 May Care had previously been taken to curtain the windows with quilts and comforters, so that when the lights were put out, the hall was as dark as pitch blackness. 1917 F. L. Packard i. iii. 73 Here it was dark—pitch blackness. 1999 A. O'Hagan (2000) i. 20 The night would be dark, the water of the burn trickling in pitch blackness. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels with other specific uses > [noun] > others spec. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Pitch-boat, a vessel fitted for boiling pitch in, which should be veered astern of the one being caulked. society > occupation and work > workplace > place where specific things are made > [noun] > others society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for making other articles > [noun] > equipment for making alum, potash, or pitch 1885 J. S. Stallybrass tr. V. Hehn 454 Pitch-boileries in the wooded spurs of the Alps. 1850 M. J. Berkeley & C. E. Broome in 5 369 Unilocular, forming little pitch-brown rather convex dots with a paler cloudy narrow border. 1912 A. H. Phillips ii. x. 468 Allanite... Color, pitch brown to black or yellowish. 2000 (Nexis) 1 Dec. 105 I use French roast [coffee], dark as velvet, pitch-brown. the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > hydrocarbon minerals > [noun] > bitumen > bituminous earth or shale 1754 Zimmerman in T. G. Smollett tr. 262 The pitch-coal is firm and compact in its texture.., with a shining polished surface, like pitch when it is broken. 1899 27 Jan. 138/1 J. S. Diller mentioned the pitch-coal of the Coos Bay lignite Mines, Oregon, which cuts the lignite in veins. 1993 J. C. Young in H. Y. Lee & C. W. Chung x. 158 Major import items were pitch coal and coke. the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > [adjective] > intensely dark 1704 D. Defoe 227 Great Mischief was done in the Night; which was..Pitch-dark. 1766 D. Garrick ii. xxiii. 38 What am I to do?—I'm all in the dark—pitch-dark. 1838 C. Dickens II. xxviii. 149 We..groped our way down stairs in the pitch dark. 1842 C. Dickens I. vi. 213 Ascend these pitch-dark stairs. 1953 J. Wain vii. 137 A suspect would be picked up even if it were pitch dark. 1995 Sept. 90/1 In the pitch dark, this could happen. the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > [noun] > intense darkness 1769 J. McFarlane 48 This golden lamp of light, In black pitch darkness quite involv'd, Brings on eternal night. 1874 A. J. C. Hare Jrnl. 4 Oct. in (1900) IV. xvii. 241 We..set off again..with lanthorns in pitch darkness. 1987 V. Mollenkott iv. 68 The Holy of Holies was set off by a veil that must have plunged the place into pitch darkness. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > processed resinous materials > [noun] > pitch > pitch-based materials 1946 101 66/1 Externally the drains are in pitchfibre with precast concrete manholes. 1958 30 June 4/6 The sales of pitch-fibre pipe continue to expand with the coming into operation of considerably increased productive capacity. 1990 D. Holloway (rev. ed.) v. 71/1 Pitch fibre pipes are no longer used for new installations. the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > conifers > [noun] > pines and allies > pitch-pines 1726 R. Bradley (ed. 5) App. 543 The Sorts of Firs are, the Scots Fir, the Silver Fir, the Norway Fir, and the Pitch Fir. 1763 J. Bell I. 216 The trees are chiefly pitch-fir, rising like a pyramid, with long spreading branches hanging to the ground. 1780 tr. U. von Troil 41 The growth of..Norway pitch-firs. 1867 (new ed.) I. 581/1 The Silver Fir, also called the Pitch Fir (Picea pectinata [= Abies alba]), displays a greater depth of branches than the other firs. 1999 (Dept. of Health & Ageing, Australia) i. 213 (table) Abies sibirica..Siberian pitch fir. the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > torch > [noun] > wooden 1792 J. Belknap III. 90 A lighted pitch-knot is placed on the outside of a canoe. 1850 H. C. Watson 157 We must have some more pitch-knots on the fire. 1992 (Nexis) Feb. 40 He was able to find and light a couple of pitch knots, and because the cave had an eight-foot ceiling, he could walk inside upright and prepare to shoot. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > [noun] > fitting out or equipping ships > cleaning and recoating bottom > covering bottom with tar > tools 1623 R. Whitbourne 75 Thrummes for Pitch mabs, 000li. 01s. 6d. 1882 (new ed.) Pitch-mineral. the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > [adjective] > intensely dark ?1795 H. Macneill 14 Pick mirk night is setting in. 1799 S. Murray Descr. Part Scotl. xii, in 327 It maun be pick mirk ere ye'se gate at the fa'. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > [noun] > fitting out or equipping ships > cleaning and recoating bottom > covering bottom with tar > tools 1759 76/2 He..struck him on the breast with a pitch-mop. 1767 T. Hutchinson 431 The lower class were beyond measure enraged and soon assembled with sticks, clubs, pitchmops, & c. 1853 W. T. Brande 204/1 When the seams are caulked, melted pitch is poured on the seams of the decks out of a pitch ladle; in other places it is laid on with a pitch mop. ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 124 (MED) Comon vse takeþ herez away bi one of 5 manerez..with pic nauall applicate with fyngerz or in a cloþ. c1440 68 Medcyn þat is called Gratia Dei..Tak litarge iiij vnces..of pik greke, pik nauill of þam ij vnces. 1601 R. Dolman tr. P. de la Primaudaye III. 311 Of the oldest pines is pitch made, which is called Nauall, by reason that it is very good to pitch Ships.] 1861 J. W. Salter in June 233 The only uses that I know of for creasote are curing ham and toothache; for the fluid used for ‘creasoting’ timber is not creasote, but pitch-oil. 1936 2 395 πισσέλαιον, pitch-oil, or turpentine. 1955 I. McDonald in June 91 Lit by one pitchoil lamp or two. 1990 (B.B.C.) (Nexis) 14 Nov. FE/W0154/A/1 The increase was credited chiefly to brisk imports of crude and pitch oil from Vietnam. 2000 R. Antoni in N. Hopkinson 232 He doused the money with pitchoil and touched he cigar to it, and that was that! society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > opal > [noun] > varieties of the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > silicates > tectosilicate > [noun] > quartz > amorphous quartz or opal > others 1861 H. W. Bristow 290/1 Pitch Opal, an inferior variety of Common Opal. 1951 M. L. Wolf 527/2 Pitch opal, in lapidary art, an inferior variety of the common opal, sometimes used in costume jewelry and small ornamental objects. the world > the earth > minerals > ore > [noun] > metal ore > copper ore > types of the world > the earth > minerals > ore > [noun] > metal ore > uranium ore the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > arsenates > [noun] > sulph-arsenate of iron the world > the earth > minerals > ore > [noun] > metal ore > iron ore > others the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > oxides and hydroxides > [noun] > rutile and uranite groups A02 > uraninite 1776 J. Seiferth tr. C. E. Gellert viii. 46 Pitch-ore, so called from its appearance of a dark pitch, or rather of a glossy metallic scoria. It is rarely found, and must not be confounded with the sea-coal, or slate like copper-ore. 1796 R. Kirwan (ed. 2) II. iv. 139 Sometimes this Ore is mixed with Bitumen..and is called Pech Erz or pitch Ore. 1816 R. Jameson (ed. 2) III. 553 Uranium. This Order contains three species, viz. Pitch-ore, Uran-mica, and Uran-ochre. 1855 E. G. Squier x. 163 The upper, or old mine of Coloal has..copper pitch ore and black copper. 1896 A. H. Chester 211 Pitticite..was earlier called pitch-ore. 1929 14 317 Usually copper pitch ore..is found only in small patches. 1783 J. Edwards Direct. Composition Telescopes in 43 When this is perfected, it must be polished upon the Pitch Polisher of a circular Form, whose Diameter is about One-tenth Part greater than the transverse Axis of the Speculum. 1853 O. Byrne Index 477/2 Pitch polisher, for specula. 1999 (Nexis) 9 Mar. (Business Suppl.) 5 The machine is a Continuous Pitch Polisher..which will polish optical lenses of one metre diameter to a flatness of less than 0.1 micron or 0.0001mm. society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > vessel in which liquid is boiled > [noun] > vessel for heating oil, size, etc. > specific 1295 in (1927) 7 432 (MED) Ollis que dicuntur Pichpottes. 1559 in E. Roberts & K. Parker (1992) I. 144 ij pannes & a pyche pott, xvj d. 1719 D. Defoe 270 Dipping it in the Pitch-Pot. 1804 45 20/1 Cursing till my blood boiled like a pitch-pot. 2000 (Nexis) 1 Nov. 3 A trailer and road-surfacing equipment..have been stolen from Midland Road. The..trailer, pitch pot burner, gas bottles and shovels were taken. 1596 J. Trussell in To Rdr. But let this pitch-speecht mouth defile but one. the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > [noun] > flagon 1890 (at cited word) Pitch-tankards are still used in Germany with certain kinds of beer, such as the Lichtenhainer. the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > wine > types of wine > [noun] > other types of wine 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. xiv. i. 406 This kind of Pitch wine [Fr. Vin qui sent naturellement la poix; L. vitis per se in vino picem resipiens] brought the territorie about Vienna into great name. 1859 B. Taylor 165 He entertained us with ‘pitch-wine’ (as he called it), of excellent quality. 1995 (Nexis) 15 Aug. 74 The Greek wine industry is still battling a tainted reputation that it produces nothing more than astringent pitch wine. society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > [noun] > resinous wood 1662 G. Smith in T. Birch (1756) I. 101 [The distillation of tar] may be also done in close vessels, by a fire encompassing a vessel of earth or iron, in which the pitch-wood may be contained. 1784 J. Belknap I. v. 125 We are struck with horror, when we hear of their binding their victim to the stake..[and] sticking his skin full of lighted pitch-wood. 1882 July 330/2 Mrs. Tsa-tate lighted the pitch-wood candles, and with down and resin dressed an ugly gash in the sole of her husband's foot. 1992 B. Unsworth xlix. 543 Calley quite often found logs of pitchwood in the forest and he had learned that this black, heavy wood was in the great demand as fuel. Derivatives 1686 (Royal Soc.) 15 1039 Upon Evaporating the water a dark or Pitch-like substance may be extracted. 1751 S. Richardson (ed. 3) III. xliv. 232 It is owing to the black pitch-like blood of your venomous-hearted young Master, boiling over, as he owns, that our honest wishes have hitherto been frustrated. 1851 H. Melville iii. 16 Jonah mixed him a pitch-like potion of gin and molasses. 1910 I. 530/1 It is of jet-black colour and brilliant pitch-like lustre. 1993 44 229 Her cheek was blackened from the contact, as if..she..had received pitch-like darkening from an unworthy consort. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). pitchn.2 Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: pitch v.2 Etymology: < pitch v.2It is uncertain how branches V. and VI. developed, as they do not seem to follow on in an obvious way either from the senses of the verb or from the other senses of the noun, although a general semantic association of ‘erecting’ and ‘height’ is perhaps evident. It is unclear whether there is any connection between sense 10 and piche n. I. Inclination, slope, declivity. 1. the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > system > [noun] > descent the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > slope > [noun] > downward a1382 (Bodl. 959) 2 Paralip. xx. 16 Þei ben to steȝen vp bi þe pych hil [a1425 L.V. side of the hil; L. clivum], cis bi name, & ȝee schul fyndyn hem in þe ouermest of þe strem. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus f. 135 Rockes of a down right pitche, or a steepe down falle. 1542 T. Elyot Cliuus, seu cliuum, the pitche of an hylle, some tyme the syde of an hyl. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. 78 The mountaine Hæmus..had in the pitch thereof the towne Aristaeum. 1786 E. Beatty Diary in (1877) I. 312 Passed the little falls which is now very perceiveable as the water is very low—only one small pitch, and on the whole they are very trifling. 1788 M. Cutler Jrnl. 5 Aug. in W. P. Cutler & J. P. Cutler (1888) I. 402 The road from Jennison's to this house is mostly good, some few sharp pitches. 1794 J. Morse (new ed.) 374 On this stream are remarkable falls: the whole descent of the water is about 200 feet, in several pitches. 1805 P. Gass 16 June (1807) ix. 100 Captain Lewis had been up the falls 15 miles above the first shoot or pitch. 1868 F. P. Verney iv One long street, which wandered up and down the steepest ‘pitches’ according to the lay of the hill. 1899 13 504 The pitch or angle of inclination of the cone [of a volcano] depends upon the materials of which it is built up. 1974 J. Gardner IV. i. 137 The headlights—staring ahead and a little upward, because of the pitch of the shed's dirt floor. 1986 J. Middleton & T. Waltham 82 The passage thus follows the limestone bedding down an amazing series of ramps at an average angle of 40 degrees, with several minor pitches, to a depth of 610m. 1992 Dec. 23/2 The pitch of hills and creek overflows are among the hazards to consider. the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > vein > [noun] > inclination of the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > features of stratum or vein > [noun] > upward slope society > occupation and work > workplace > places where raw materials are extracted > mine > [noun] > inclination of vein or seam the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > sedimentary formation > [noun] > stratum > position or direction of strata > slope 1719 (Royal Soc.) 30 969 The Obliquity or Pitch, as they term it, in all the Works hereabout, is about 22 Inches in a Fathom. 1822 W. D. Conybeare & W. Phillips p. iii The angle of inclination between these planes and that of the horizon, is called their dip, or pitch. 1868 G. H. Cook 55 Pitch.—This term has come into use among those engaged in iron mining, to express the characteristic descent of the iron ore beds beneath the surface, towards the northeast. It is at right angles to the dip, and is in the same direction with the strike, though not horizontal. 1908 35 75 Mr. E. R. Field (Victoria, Australia) said that in the Bendigo district of Victoria the word ‘pitch’ was universally used to show the dip of the ore-bodies in the direction of the strike of the lode. 1921 4 Mar. 199/2 The trace of any bedding plane on the cleavage surface indicates approximately the direction and degree of pitch of the fold, that is, the inclination of the axial line of the fold to the horizontal. 1962 H. H. Read & J. Watson I. viii. 449 The plunge is measured in degrees from the horizontal in a vertical plane.., while the pitch is given by the angle between the fold-axis and the strike of the axial plane, measured in the axial plane. 1975 10 Oct. 113/3 The presence of striations, with a 45° pitch to the horizontal. 2. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > roof > [noun] > inclination of 1659 T. Willsford 12 Principall sparres or rafters..are made according to the true pitch of the building intended. 1679 J. Moxon I. ix. Explan. Terms 170 The Angle a Gable-end is set to, is called the Pitch of the Gable-end. 1710 J. Harris II. (at cited word) If the Length of each Rafter be ¾ of the Breadth of the Building, then they say that the Roof is of a True Pitch: But if the Rafters are longer, they say 'tis a high or sharp pitch'd Roof; if shorter, they call it a low or flat pitch'd Roof. 1761 W. Ellett Arithmetic Bk. in C. R. Lounsbury (1994) 276 If the Roof be more flat or steep than the true Pitch, it will be more or less accordingly. 1843 ‘R. Carlton’ I. xix. 157 Don't my ole-womin's dry apples git off the plank and then role rite down, smack down the pitch of the ruf? 1863 D. G. Mitchell 85 Walls..of the uniform height of ten feet, covered with a roof of sharp pitch. a1878 G. G. Scott (1879) I. 254 All previous styles of architecture..in Southern countries, had roofs of a low pitch. 1937 Apr. 94/3 The pitch of the roof, by good fortune, lent itself to the Cape Cod style in which the owners were most particularly interested. 1984 Mar. 124/1 ‘Flat’ roofs may actually have a pitch of up to 10°—if they were perfectly flat they wouldn't drain. society > travel > means of travel > route or way > other means of passage or access > [noun] > flight of steps > slope of 1679 J. Moxon I. ix. 153 You will first ascend upon a Pitch of Flyers, which Pitch (making an Angle of 38 deg. with the Floor) with ten Steps raise you six Foot high above the Floor. 1842 J. Gwilt ii. iii. 543 The framed timbers which support the steps of a staircase are called the carriage. They generally consist of two pieces inclined to the pitch of the stairs, called the rough strings. 1909 W. A. Radford et al. 130 It..taxes the ingenuity of the workmen to work out the railings, newels, etc., so as to rest in the proper planes with the pitch given the stairs. 2000 (Nexis) 23 Apr. h2 Preassembled sections that can be adjusted to fit the incline or pitch of different flights of stairs. 3. the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > ploughing equipment > [noun] > plough > ploughshare > setting of 1669 J. Worlidge 207 Any Plough..having its true Pitch, with its true cast on the Sheild-board and short Wrest. 1707 J. Mortimer (1721) I. 50 A great matter..in the making of Ploughs, is to make them go true to the pitch they are set. 1787 W. Marshall Provincialisms in II. 380 Plowing the full depth of the soil is called ‘taking it up a full pitch’. 1855 G. Emerson (new ed.) 911/2 A ready means of altering the depth or pitch of the swing plough while in motion. 1894 R. L. Ardrey 21 The only improvement of which this harrow was susceptible was giving the point of the teeth a backward pitch to thus make them more effective in smoothing the surface and crushing clods. 1955 R. Bainer et al. 320 Rotating the eccentric about the reel axis changes the pitch of the teeth [in a mechanical rake]. 1992 C. Culpin (ed. 12) 68 On most modern tractor ploughs, the pitch of the complete body in relation to the beam may be varied easily. society > occupation and work > equipment > shaping tools or equipment > plane > [noun] > inclination of society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > [noun] > cutting part of > blade or edge of > inclination of 1875 E. H. Knight III. 1719/1 The pitch of a saw is the rake or inclination of the face of a tooth. 1875 J. Lukin 23 A jack plane with its double iron..lying in its bed, the latter being at an angle of 45 deg. to the sole. This is the angle called common pitch. 1888 276 The amount of forward angle, or pitch of saw teeth. 1922 R. C. Bryant 116 (note) Pitch is the angle between the back of a tooth and a line drawn from the extreme point of the tooth to the center of the saw. 1993 (Nexis) Nov. 6 Side grinders, available in models for saws with tooth pitches up to 60 or 120 mm. society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > qualities and parameters of aircraft > [noun] > angle of pitch 1915 No. 108. 1 The tests on each model comprise the determination of lift and drift for angles of pitch from −10° to + 10° by 2° steps. 1920 L. Bairstow iv. 223 The curves for 0° and −5° pitch are seen to lie below those of the rudder alone. 1935 493/2 In horizontal flight the angle of pitch is the angle between the longitudinal axis and the direction of motion of the aircraft. 2003 (Nexis) 20 Nov. [The pilot] relaxed the aircraft's elevators..because..he had to get the angle of pitch to the correct level for landing. II. An act, manner, or result of pitching. †5. society > trade and finance > payment > [noun] c1500 in F. J. Furnivall (1868) I. 455 It cost me a noble at one pyche. the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > [noun] > an act of choosing 1706 in C. J. Hoadly (1868) IV. 540 John Allin hath pitched upon and made choice of a certain parcell of land of 300 acres... This Court doth allow and approve the said pitch and choice made by said Allin of the said 300 acres of land. 1791 in II. 434 We continue to think this is a very agreeable part of England; and perhaps I could not have made a better pitch than I have done. 6. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > pitch and toss, etc. > [noun] 1745 Ld. Chesterfield 12 Nov. (1932) (modernized text) III. 696 I would be melancholy and mortified, if I did not both construe Homer, and play at pitch, better than any boy..in my own form. 1888 F. T. Elworthy Pitch,..2. A game played with pennies or other round discs. The object is to pitch the penny into a hole in the ground from a certain point. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > other card games > [noun] > all fours 1860 G. T. Clark Jrnl. 27 May in (1913) June 9/1 Had a game of pitch in our tent tonight. 1871 29 July 2/3 They asked me if I could play ‘pitch’. 1943 E. M. Thompson 11 I think I could have equipped myself to much greater advantage if I had devoted my four collegiate years to mastering pitch, hearts and knock rummy. 1984 17 Dec. 127/3 We were playing a card game called pitch. 7. society > travel > travel by water > action or motion of vessel > [noun] > rolling and pitching the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > [noun] > plunging > instance of 1751 T. Smollett I. ii. 17 By a pitch of the ship, your starboard heel was jammed in one of the scuppers. 1762 W. Falconer ii. 33 At ev'ry pitch, the quiv'ring bowsprit's end Beneath the wat'ry pressure, seems to bend. 1856 12 Sept. 9/2 [The horse] lost his balance and reeled clear over the parapet... Our first pitch was on a place just sloped enough for some long grass to grow. 1864 J. C. Atkinson 72 A tipsy-looking kind of pitch-forward of the bird. 1871 G. MacDonald ix. 105 You will know I am near you by every roll and pitch of the vessel. 1947 M. Lowry iv. 132 A ship which, leaving the choppy waters of the estuary, gives way to the pitch and swing of the open sea. 1995 J. Humes et al. (Gloss.) Over the handlebars, a pitch forward that results from getting your body weight too far forward or the tip of your board buried in snow or otherwise obstructed. society > travel > air or space travel > specific movements or positions of aircraft > [noun] > motion round lateral axis 1920 B. 91 p. xxxv This work indicated how necessary it was to obtain an autographic record of the movements, of roll, pitch, and yaw of an aeroplane. 1935 585/1 Thus a roll causes a yaw, and a yaw causes a roll... When, as often, a pitch is also introduced, it soon becomes apparent why the problem is a difficult one. 1967 20 Feb. 35/3 When the booms are deployed, the spacecraft moment of inertia in pitch and roll with respect to Earth is about 250,000 slug-ft.2 1991 Nov. 13/1 At height the control response, although good in pitch and yaw, was not as I was expecting. 8. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [noun] > manner of bowling society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [noun] > a ball bowled > properties of 1833 J. Nyren 46 The first thing he [sc. the fieldsman] should make himself master of, is to play from the pitch of the ball, and the motion of the batsman, so as to get the start of the ball. 1851 J. Pycroft ix. 180 Cobbett's delivery designed a spin, and the ball at the pitch had new life in it. 1884 I. Bligh in i. ii. 7 Considerable command over the ball in respect of pitch and break. 1925 25 July 142/1 In playing forward..never ‘hang your bat out to dry’ by not advancing your left foot to the pitch of the ball; if you do, you have neither power nor control. 1963 A. Ross v. 115 He danced out to Titmus, was not quite at the pitch, and the ball, taking the outside edge, dollied up to Trueman at short extra. 2004 (Nexis) 6 May 58 He could not reach the pitch of the ball and found it passing his leg-stump by several inches. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > [noun] > pitching 1860 6 Aug. 2/5 We went prepared to watch very closely, in order to ascertain..whether his pitching was a ‘jerk’, ‘an underhand throw’, or a ‘fair square pitch’. 1867 4 July 1/2 Zeller,..getting round on a passed ball and wild pitch, came home on another passed ball. 1914 611/1 Batters..were thrown completely off their stride by a pitch that came up so slowly that it would scarcely break a pane of glass, followed by a fast-breaking curve. 1942 3 Apr. 18/7 The machine will throw 75 per cent more strikes in a given number of pitches than a human. 1967 III. 230/2 Break..(b) the point of deviation of a curve pitch from the straight trajectory. 1987 S. Fiffer vii. 151 It is essential that the catcher know what pitch is coming. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > [noun] > types of play 1889 A. Lawson 27 Jamie advanced, glanced at the ground, and played a wrist pitch on to the slope beyond the hole. 1901 9 Sept. 4/7 His pitch overrunning the hole, he gave himself too much to do for a half in 5. 1978 15 June 1729/2 With a clear shot Planchin hit a fine pitch, holed a long putt and won a match. 1993 H. Penick 87 He hit a nice second shot right up in front of the green, just a short pitch away. Wilmer shanked the pitch shot. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > [noun] > types of shot or stroke 1908 25 Apr. 9/1 The man who is alike master of the pitch, the run-up and the pitch and run shot, will be at a considerable advantage. 1912 H. Vardon 90 The most common form of the mashie shot, which is the pitch-and-run. 1961 E. Brown 45 I played my normal low pitch-and-run-shot, the old traditional Scottish shot. 2003 (Nexis) 12 Sept. 40 Doran played a glorious pitch and run to within inches of the cup at 17 to again level the proceedings. the world > space > distance > [noun] > a short distance society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > forms of golf > [adjective] > type of course society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > forms of golf > [noun] 1924 6 May 19/2 The second is a pitch and putt hole to a green thirty-six feet from the tee with two traps to clear on the pitch.] 1925 6 Sept. (Sports section) 7/8 There are two courses at Parkridge, an eightenn-hole championship course..and a nine-hole pitch and putt course. 1963 Jan. 9/2 Pitch and Putt Course. Tennis. Sea-bathing. 1972 J. McClure xiv. 234 I believe..you played a round of pitch-and-putt? 1991 R. Doyle 16 I'll win the turkey in the pitch 'n' putt annyway, he said. 9. 1865 154/1 In the event of a ‘tumble’, [we] could not tell what we had in our ‘kicks’, and, consequently, it was time to put a damper on the ‘pitch’. 1865 106/1 I was unable..to inform Joe of my complete success in the undertaking, and to all appearance, he believed the ‘pitch was crabbed’. 1949 3 June c1/1 If your character and endorsements carry weight..you've title to go, provided the bride would welcome you. But if that's not the pitch, stay away. 1965 C. Himes v. 37 What's their pitch? Snatching and running or just mugging? 1994 P. Auster in (Electronic ed.) Spring What's the pitch, little brother? the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun] > that which persuades > speech 1876 W. Green & C. Hindley 255 When I had done my ‘pitch’ and got down from the stage. 1926 29 Dec. 7/4 The outdoor show game with its ‘rag front’,..‘pitch’, [etc.]. 1962 18 Jan. 128/1 I've often sat in the living-room listening to some other joker give his pitch before I could give mine. 1968 3 Feb. 3/1 Organizers are planning to allow 40 minutes for each candidate to make his pitch to the convention. 1973 13 Jan. a22/2 One novel remedy was correctional ads that required a company to tell the consumer that its earlier pitch was not totally true. 1982 16 July 1/5 Lintas nets £1m Japan Airlines in five-way pitch..SSC and B Lintas has won the Japan Airlines advertising business..against an initial list of four other agencies. 1989 Sept. 13/2 The Bear was filmed entirely on location..and tells the story outlined by Annaud in his original pitch to producer Claude Berri. 1994 Aug. 31/1 It was delivered to the house by the sales director of the company who gave me the full pitch. 2003 (Nexis) 13 Oct. b1 Six years ago, St. Joseph's made a pitch to run the county's outpatient clinics. the mind > language > speech > conversation > [noun] > chatting or chat 1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ III. xv. 232 Starlight and Jim were having a pitch about the best way to get aboard one of these pearling craft, and how jolly it would be. 1892 7 Sept. 2/1 We now have a ‘pitch’ with the men; ‘pitch’, be it said, is another term for talk. 1898 17 Dec. (Red Page) An incessant talker is a skiter or a fluter, and a request to him to pass the flute or the kip is to allow someone else to ‘do a pitch’. 1941 19 Nov. (cartoon caption) 17 What's the pitch on April, Pat? She booted me around like she was trying to score a field goal. III. Something that is pitched, or used for pitching. the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > net > [noun] > fixed net 1523 J. Fitzherbert ix. f. 10v To fysshe with shouenettes, trodenettes, small pytches, and suche other. 1590 in (1899) XIX. 406 He should cause the said wayres, stakes and pytches to be removed and plucked up, that the river maie have yts free course. 1692–3 Act 4 & 5 Will. & Mary in (1704) 155 No persons whatsoever shall after the 25th day of March, 1693, keep any Net, Angle, Leap, Piche, or other Engin for taking Fish. 1705 c. 21 Nets, Angles, Leaps, Pitches, and other Engines for the taking..of Fish. 1714 in (1932) 104 154/2 Nets, pyches, or other engines to catch fish. 1973 W. Elmer iv. 240 [Cheshire] Shrimp-basket,..poich. 11. English regional. the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > [noun] > implement for making holes in the ground 1589 in F. G. Emmison (1998) (modernized text) XI. 184 To John Waforde my partner my iron ‘pych’,..my ‘houve’, and my best hat. 1673 in F. W. Steer (1950) 128 Two sithes, an iron pitch, a spade. 1691 J. Ray S. & E. Country Words in (ed. 2) 110 A Pitch; a Bar of Iron with a thick square pointed end to make holes in the ground by pitching down. 1790 F. Grose (ed. 2) Pitch, a bar of iron for making holes in the ground, by pitching it. 1875 W. D. Parish (1957) 95/2 Pitch, an iron stake for making holes in the ground for hurdles. the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > management of plants > propagation of plants > [noun] > by cuttings > cutting or slip 1808 C. Vancouver vi. 134 The stakes or pitches..were chiefly of willow. 1856 17 ii. 363 Live stakes (provincially termed withy pitches). 1888 F. T. Elworthy (at cited word) In making new hedges it is usual to stipulate ‘to be planted with good withy or elder pitches’ or ‘pitchers’. 12. A quantity of something pitched or thrown. the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > [noun] > fork > pitch-fork > amount thrown up by 1778 W. Marshall 2 Sept. 1776 Every pitch of hay and corn, generally speaking, passes twice thro' his hands. 1844 W. Barnes 109 Oon da tiake The pitches in. 1878 R. Jefferies 76 The ‘pitch’ of hay on the prong. 1890 J. D. Robertson 114 Pitch, the quantity taken up at a time on a hay-fork. 1985 (Nexis) 28 July 20 Hay was turned, tedded, ‘pooked’ and heaved in great pitches on to a waiting waggon. 2000 (Nexis) 18 Mar. 6 b Used to rise with the rooster's crow..milked the cow, gave old Bess a pitch of hay, stopping by to feed the sow. society > trade and finance > merchandise > [noun] > an article or kind of 1866 3 Oct. 2/3 The pitch of cheese was the largest that has been known for some years past. 1888 9 July 2/7 Other sorts [of wool]..are being thrown on the market in large pitches. 1960 8 Mar. 16/1 At Aberdeen, the only beef cattle (in a pitch up by 1,049 to 1,666) that dropped in price were the 18-month-olds. 2004 www.meltonmowbraymarket.co.uk 27 Apr. (O.E.D. Archive) A larger than expected pitch of 1154 cull ewes met with a very steady trade. society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > stone or rock > [noun] > stone as material for paving > a paving stone > sett 1896 30 Sept. 7/1 A large part of the [Piccadilly] Circus is ‘up’, and is being relaid with granite pitches. IV. A place of pitching. the world > space > place > [noun] > of which the position alone is considered > at or from which something is pitched 1551 R. Record i. xi Then pitch one foote of your compasse at the one ende of the line, and with the other foote draw a bowe line right ouer the pytche of the compasse. 1630 Order in R. Griffiths (1746) 75 Every Hebberman shall fish by the Shore, and pitch their Pole at half Ebb, and shall have but forty Fathom Rope allowed from the Pitch of their Pole into the River. the mind > will > decision > [noun] > (a) resolution or decision the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > [noun] > fixed opinion 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy xxxviii. ix. 987 They knew the natures and minds of their countrymen..how untractable they were and not to be removed if they once tooke a pitch. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy xliv. xxxviii. 1195 None of you may thinke that I have taken such a pitch, and hold that opinion of mine without just cause. 16. 1612 in W. Page (1911) II. 369/2 Yf anie pitche grib or grooffe lye unlawful..then it shall be lawfull for the said lead-reeve..to give the said grib pitche or grooffe..to anie workeman that shall work the same. 1679 in J. W. Gough (1931) 79 Many Times when Pitches are kept So long men do not perfectly remember the time of Pitching. 1778 W. Pryce 330/1 The mine or a part thereof, called a Pitch. 1855 J. R. Leifchild 142 By this management the lode is finally divided into masses called pitches, each sixty feet in height, by about thirty-three feet in length. 1888 51 536 The ordinary tributer..has to judge by appearances whether the pitch is likely to turn out well or ill. 1895 J. W. Anderson (ed. 6) 163 Pitch (Cornwall)—The part of a lode let out to be worked on tribute. 1990 (Nexis) Apr. 269 The company started by reopening Pennerley, although tributers were let pitches in the upper levels at Bog. society > occupation and work > workplace > [noun] > one's > allotted 1794 T. Davis 33 The water is thrown over as much of the meadow as it will cover well at a time, which the watermen call a ‘Pitch of Work’; and when it is necessary to lay this pitch dry, they take out the turves and let the water into the drains. 1801 Jan. 51 Having thus completed one pitch of work, (if you will allow me to borrow a phrase from the water flooders). 1805 R. W. Dickson II. 659 After having completed..one pitch of work, consisting of thirteen ridges, he is to begin again in a similar manner. 1875 J. H. Temple & G. Sheldon 16 The two meadows..were not divided, till the choice pitches were assigned in 1731. 1943 H. J. Massingham iii. 31 When the lots were cast, each new owner took his scythe and ‘made his pitch’, that is to say, he mowed round the post or pile of stones that was his boundary mark. 1954 6 286 Between each pair of carriages was a drain that took off the water at the other end of the meadow and passed it to a main drain that rejoined the river below the pitch of work. 17. the world > space > place > position or situation > [noun] > where one takes up a position, residence, etc. society > occupation and work > workplace > [noun] > one's > area or district society > trade and finance > trading place > stall or booth > [noun] > pitch 1699 (1901) 207 The laying out of John Pringles pitch upon the good hill. 1703 224 To relinquish his pich at the uper end of woster swamp. 1746 (1911) 166 A ten Acre pitch which his Father bought of Thos Judd of Hartford. 1765 T. Hutchinson (ed. 2) i. 22 Here Mr. Nowell and some of his friends made their pitch. 1823 J. F. Cooper I. xix. 282 Elizabeth saw many large openings appear in the sides of the mountains,..where different settlers had, in the language of the country, ‘made their pitch’. 1851 H. Mayhew I. 10/2 In consequence of a New Police regulation, ‘stands’ or ‘pitches’ have been forbidden. 1865 in (1984) 13 xiii. 10 It was getting well on towards morning when the ‘pitch’ began to break up, some taking their way home, others steering for the night-houses and wine-rooms. 1889 22 Oct. 3/1 Two pitches were made in widely separated quarters of the town, and in each instance the members of Parliament..left a numerous and interested assembly. 1932 A. Bell ii. 12 I noticed that a newsvendor had left his pitch temporarily; his pile of papers lay on the wall. 1943 W. Buchanan-Taylor xxi. 199 A well-known drapery pitcher (one who sells drapery by pitching it, i.e. telling a story about each article offered, usually gagging in an entertaining way while describing, to keep the pitch interested). 1959 May 22/2 If the street is full, a new pitch is carved out [for a prostitute]. 1989 July 7/1 L'Etang Du Moulinal camp site has around 120 pitches grouped near a small lake. the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > angling > place for standing 1867 F. Francis i. 32 (note) Before the angler..attempts to fish any special hole, swim, pitch, or cast. 1872 5 Aug. A fisherman has had orders from a customer to bait one or two barbel pitches, and not to spare the worms. 1922 V. Woolf ii. 26 Fishermen on the lower pier taking up their pitch within its [sc. the band's] range. 1979 July 6/2 Find a piece of reasonably solid ground where I can set up a pitch and wait. 1999 May (Special ed.) 35/1 Anglers drawing the port and starboard pitches set up uptiders, while those fishing the stern had two rods each over the back. 1978 1 Sept. 19/1 Patchy trading on the traded options pitch pushed ICI to the head of the active stocks. 1996 (Nexis) 28 Sept. 20 It might have seemed like the Big Bang never happened. The stock exchange recreated the old trading pitches for the night. 18. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [noun] > wicket 1871 ‘Thomsonby’ v. 59 Let the pitch be well watered and rolled on the day before the match. 1890 17 Oct. 5/3 The London Playing Fields Committee is now laying fifteen good cricket pitches in Epping Forest. a1912 A. Lang (1923) ii. 62 I am the batsman and the bat, I am the bowler and the ball, The umpire, the pavilion cat, The roller, pitch,..and all. 1955 12 May 4/4 The pitch dried too slowly to become really unpleasant during the Middlesex innings. 1972 J. Kay vi. 45 The captains debated whether to continue after a long inspection of the pitch. 1994 I. Botham vi. 121 The umpires..took the players off the pitch when bad light stopped play. society > leisure > sport > place for sports or games > [noun] society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > [noun] > ground 1895 20 Dec. 8/4 It is almost impossible for any but the richest clubs to obtain a cricket or football pitch. 1902 7 Apr. 3/1 The International football match was made..memorable by..the collapsing of a portion of the terracing flanking the pitch. 1931 28 Apr. 11/4 The ball was centred, and the eleven men, playing a phantom team, swept down the pitch to the unguarded goal. 1971 J. Reason vii. 41 The natural banking which almost completely encircled the pitch had been ramped and grassed. 1994 14 Sept. 2/3 Shinty referees have demanded a police escort before they set foot again on the pitch of Skye Camanachd. V. The highest point, height, etc. 19. the world > space > relative position > high position > [noun] > highest point or top a1552 J. Leland (1711) VII. 4 From this Bridge the great Streate of the Towne goith up apon a pratie Hille: at the Pitch whereof there turnithe a nothar Streat by Este to Seint Peter's, the Heade Churche of the Towne. 1587 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Iland Brit. (new ed.) i. v. 10/1 in (new ed.) I The length of the face, taken at large from the pitch of the crowne to the chin. 1587 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Iland Brit. (new ed.) i. v. 10/2 in (new ed.) I From the highest part of the forehead to the pitch of the chin. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy ii. l. 79 The Veientians..set a compasse about the hill side, and gained the verie top and pitch [vertex] thereof. 1667 J. Milton ii. 772 Down they fell Driv'n headlong from the Pitch of Heaven, down Into this Deep. View more context for this quotation the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > projection or protuberance > [noun] 1566 T. Blundeville Order curing Horses Dis. cxiii. f. 83, in That is when the shoulder poynt or pitch of the shoulder [of a horse] is displaced. 1590 C. Marlowe sig. B2v Such breadth of shoulders as might mainely beare Olde Atlas burthen, twixt his manly pitch, A pearle more worth, then all the world is plaste. 1592 R. Dallington tr. F. Colonna f. 78 This garment..was taken vp round about the pitch of her hippes. 1611 R. Cotgrave Acromion, the shoulder pitch. 1697 (Royal Soc.) 19 504 [The Moose:] From the Toe of the Fore-foot to the Pitch of the Shoulder, Twelve Foot. 1740 G. Fisher (ed. 5) 363 For a Shoulder-Pitch is caused by a Fall, &c. which will be seen by a Swelling on the Pitch of the Shoulders. 1796 J. Hunter at Halting If it lies in the shoulder, it must be towards the withers, or in the pitch of the shoulders. the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > promontory, headland, or cape > [noun] > point of 1677 W. Hubbard i. 5 The Sea coast from the pitch of Cape Cod to the mouth of Connecticut River. 1694 Northern Neck Grants 295/1 in (1940) 15 At a small naked pine standing on the pitch of a point that makes the mouth of Quanticott creek on the North side of the creek. 1725 2 660 They Concluded to go..to Ruby and there to heave down and Crean At the Pitch of Cape Florida. 1770 G. Washington (1925) II. 287 The fort is built in the point between the River Alligany and Monongahela, but not so near the pitch of it as Fort Duquesne stood. 1805 (1852) II. App. 1673 For completing..the light-house at or near the pitch of Cape Lookout. 1894 7 Aug. 8/7 Between the pitch of St. Catherine's headland and the eastern point of Watershot Bay she struck very heavily on an outlying rock. 1952 A. Villiers xix. 273 She was caught off the pitch of the Cape in a black southeaster. the world > life > the body > bodily height > [noun] 1575 G. Gascoigne Complaint Greene Knight in 183 The mounture so well made, and for my pitch so fit. 1631 T. Heywood iii. 30 Besse. Much of my stature? Rough. Much about your pitch. 1682 E. Hickeringill xv. 46 Just of his Size, Complexion and Pitch. 1703 (new ed.) 170 Makes the work fall too low for the pitch of the Workman. 1791 R. Beilby (ed. 2) 54 All those of each kind that exceed or fall short of this pitch, are more or less disproportioned. 1923 E. Gepp (ed. 2) 87 I thought 'twas som'ers about his pitch. 21. the world > animals > birds > bird of prey > [noun] > height reached 1576 G. Pettie 11 A hauke the higher pitch shee flieth fro the ground with the more force shee stoupeth downe vpon her praye. 1594 W. Shakespeare ii. i. 12 It is but a base minde That can sore no higher then a Falkons pitch. 1650 N. Ward 50 When Buzzards are advanc'd, they'l flie an Eagles pitch. 1735 at Stooping Stooping (in Falconry), is when a hawk being upon her wings, at the height of her pitch, bends down violently to take the fowl. 1814 W. Wordsworth vii. 343 If touched by him The inglorious foot-ball mounted to the pitch Of the Lark's flight. View more context for this quotation 1828 J. S. Sebright (new ed.) 22 Much better..than that his pitch should be lowered..by too much luring. 1852 R. F. Burton v. 62 Well too did the kite..get to his pitch, and prepare himself for the combat. 1965 P. Wayre i. 18 The object was to reward the tiercel with food on the lure while it was at its highest pitch. 1995 5 Aug. (Weekend) 2 The wind going up the slope, which assists the falcon to the needed pitch (height of climb). 1590 J. Harington Disc. in (1775) II. 51 Hee, having new furbusht vp an old coment, supposed to bee St. Awstens, flyes in a hye pitch, lyke a falcon with those fethers, that, if they wear pluckt, wold proove him but a woodcocke. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxiii. 24 in (1998) II. 93 Soe high a pitch their proud presumption flyes. 1656 A. Cowley Davideis ii. 48 in To this strange pitch their high affections flew. 1718 No. 77. 1 He flies a Pitch above Common Mischiefs. 1781 W. Cowper 16 The world, who knows No flights above the pitch of prose. 1798 J. Ferriar vi. 182 Rabelais flew to a higher pitch, too, than Sterne. 1837 H. Hallam I. iii. 292 Another [comedy], entitled Sergius..flies a much higher pitch. 1885 ‘E. Douglas’ iii. iii. 85 But soar above thy pitch, God and the soul in the thin air of Reason Give double aspects to thee. the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > vertical extent > [noun] > above a certain level 1590 E. Spenser i. xi. sig. L3 That infernall Monster..Gan high aduaunce his broad discoloured brest, Aboue his wonted pitch. 1647 J. Trapp (2 Tim. iv. 10) Blazing comets..when they begin to decline from their pitch, they fall to the earth. 1664 H. Power ii. 90 The Quicksilver will fall down to its wonted pitch and stint of 29 inches or thereabouts. 1701 (Royal Soc.) 22 886 That City seemeth..for the most part somewhat elevated above the pitch of the rest of the Valley. 1774 G. White Let. 14 Feb. in (1789) 174 A very wet autumn and winter, so as to raise the springs to a pitch beyond any thing since 1764. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > roof > [noun] > height of society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [noun] > parts of 1615 G. Sandys 161 The roofe of the Temple is of a high pitch, curiously arched, and supported with great pillars of marble. 1646 in W. W. Hening (1823) I. 337 The houses to be twenty foot broad apeece, eight foot high in the pitche. 1703 R. Neve 64 9 Foot betwixt the Floors..is the Pitch of their Rooms. 1772 C. Hutton 59 A semicircle whose height or pitch is 45 feet, and consequently its span 90 feet. 1772 C. Hutton 99 Pitch, of an arch, the perpendicular height from the spring or impost to the keystone. 1824 Minute Bk. Carteret County (N. Carolina) Court of Pleas & Quarter Sess. in C. R. Lounsbury (1994) 276 The pitch of the [court] house [is] to 14 feet from floor to ceiling. 1876 W. Papworth (rev. ed.) Gloss. 1297 Pitch of an Arch, the versed sine, or height from the springing line up to the under-side of it. 1928 32 425 The high pitch of the arch, and the inclination of the gable on both sarcophagi present strong contrasts to all the other three-niche examples with their very low segmental arches. 1940 20 303 On the 15th July, 1772, it [sc. a church] was ordered to be replaced..by a new frame structure, seventy feet by thirty feet in the clear, twenty-two feet pitch, with a gallery at the west end. the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [noun] > quality or fact of being extreme > highest, utmost, or extreme degree the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [noun] > power or range of voice > loudness of voice > one's loudest voice 1624 H. Wotton sig. ⁋3v Vitruuius..wrote when the Roman Empire was neere the pitch. 1723 II. 184 Mankind would have been brought to the Pitch of Wickedness. 1729 A. Pope Prolegomena Scriblerus in (new ed.) 26 Forty..the very Acme and pitch of life for Epic poesy. 1848 J. H. Newman iii. x. 382 A little boy..and a poor woman, singing at the pitch of their voices. 1873 W. Black xxiii. 387 What was the meaning of those sudden fits of silence that would strike in when the general hilarity was at its pitch? 1882 R. L. Stevenson I. 216 Francis was at the pitch of surprise and horror. 1931 V. Woolf 54 I need someone..to whom the pitch of absurdity is sublime, and a shoe-string adorable. 1996 19 Sept. 5/3 He was ‘angry and aggressive’ and had reached ‘the pitch of irritation’. VI. Height in a figurative sense; degree. 24. the world > relative properties > quantity > degree or relative amount of a quality, action, etc. > [noun] a1568 R. Ascham (1570) ii. f. 31 The Latin tong, euen whan it was, as the Grecians say, in ακμη, that is, at the hiest pitch of all perfitenesse. 1595 E. Spenser sig. C2 Nor all the brood of Greece so highly praised, Can match that Muse when it with bayes is crowned, And to the pitch of her perfection raised. 1608 D. Tuvill f. 33 Raysing the valour of every..person amongst them, to a farre higher pitch. 1671 J. Milton 169 To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall'n. View more context for this quotation 1728 J. Veneer tr. Pref. 6 Till they arrive at such a pitch, as they cannot think of without horror and astonishment. 1752 D. Hume (1777) I. 107 To what a pitch did the Athenians carry their eloquence! 1760 W. Reddington lxxxvi. 147 Keep the liquor to the same pitch of heat as tho' it were really in a mash tun. 1822 W. Hazlitt (1869) 2nd Ser. iv. 82 The feelings are wound up to a pitch of agony. 1871 E. A. Freeman IV. xviii. 245 The family which in two generations has risen from obscurity to the highest pitch of greatness. 1958 S. J. Perelman 298 His inquietude had reached an almost unbearable pitch. 1988 Nov. 22/2 (advt.) Last December's Varsity Match was once again worthy of its long traditions, with the crowd kept at a pitch of excitement throughout the closely contested game. society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > [noun] > extraction from ore > smelting > stage of metal in 1839 A. Ure 323 To render the metal malleable, or, in the language of the smelters, bring it to the proper pitch. 1868 F. H. Joynson 99 The copper is tested, as above described, from time to time, and, according to its pitch or grain. 1877 R. W. Raymond 393 If the pitch is right the globules will all be round and hollow. 1989 A. C. Davies (ed. 9) I. ii. 120 The oxygen content of the copper is known as the ‘pitch’ and poling is ended when the ‘tough pitch’ condition is reached. 25. society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > [noun] the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > thing heard > [noun] > sound > quality of sound > pitch 1597 T. Morley 166 Take an instrument, as a Lute Orpharion, Pandora, or such like, being in the naturall pitch, and set it a note or two lower. 1606 v. i. sig. Hv A playne song..Whose highest pitch in lowest base doth end. 1669 W. Holder 99 The Acute accent raising the Voice in some certain Syllables, to a higher, i.e. more acute Pitch or Tone, and the Grave depressing it lower. 1694 W. Holder viii. 199 [Such] As what it is, that makes Humane Voices, even of the same Pitch, so much to differ one from another. 1749 R. Smith vi. 118 They do not beat at all, like imperfect consonances, but only flutter, at a slower or quicker rate according to the pitch of the sounds. 1776 C. Burney I. 17 All the notes in the horizontal range of the several diagrams, are at the same pitch. 1832 D. Brewster ix. 229 To depend..on the pitch or frequency of vibration constituting the note. 1867 M. E. Herbert i. 9 Screaming out..in every conceivable key and pitch of shrillness. 1890 Melodics, that branch of musical science that is concerned with the pitch and succession of tones. 1929 Feb. 223 As to pitch again, the Englishman drops on his ‘don't’ and rises on his ‘know’. 1966 A. Higgins xxiii. 171 The drone of the threshing-machine slackened, faltered, altered pitch, fell off into silence. 2004 (Nexis) 19 Apr. d3 The strings, particularly the violins, had a rich, mellow tone at high pitches, where they often sound wiry. society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > [noun] > fixed standard of pitch 1725 J. F. de la Fond i. 14 I call the pitch, the most agreeable degree or place to fix the scale. 1772 W. Tans'ur iii. 71 Concert or Opera Pitch, for a Vocal Performance &c. from which all other notes may be proportioned.—The Lombardy, and Venice Pitch, is a Tone higher than ours, or theirs at Rome. 1801 T. Busby (at cited word) The opera pitch is tuned above most others, and is therefore said to be higher than the common concert pitch. 1869 23 Jan. 136/1 The note c, on the third space of the treble clef, corresponds to a number of double vibrations per second, varying from about 500 to 550, according to the pitch adopted. 1944 W. Apel 585/1 Throughout the Baroque period, different pitches were in use for different ensembles. 1952 46 341 In certain European countries and in the United States the standard pitch is A = 440 cps (cycles per second), whereas in the other European countries the standard pitch is A = 435 cps. In the eighteenth century and onwards, the standard pitch in use was the so-called ‘classical’ pitch of A = 422 cps, to which Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven wrote. 1996 54 200/1 An historical style involves the use of baroque pitch and gut strings..in the performance of Corelli sonatas. the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > [noun] > vibration 1871 J. Tyndall ix. 226 As we advance along the spectrum..the pitch of the light..heightens. 1902 25 Dec. 5 One receiving instrument will only take messages sent by another instrument ‘tuned’ to the same pitch, that is sending vibrations of a given length and frequency. 1933 Feb. 144/1 Each and every transmitting station has its allotted tone or electrical pitch. VII. Distance between successively pitched points; spacing, distribution. 26. 1613 J. May v. 32 At first their (perpentuanas') pitch in the loom was (twelue) hundreth, but now brought to eight hundreth, yet keepe their breadth and length. 1934 F. J. Mayers v. 41 In a good quality ‘Best Brussels’ the ‘pitch’ would be about 9 to the inch. 1968 B. Jacobs 71 Royal Axminster was 5 pitch, twenty-five tufts to the square inch. 2004 (Nexis) 8 Apr. 21 The 14-acre Axminster boasts 28 looms, 12 and 15ft and 6, 7 and 8 pitch. society > communication > printing > printed matter > printed character(s) > [noun] > density of characters on line, per inch 1932 M. Crooks & F. Dawson (ed. 3) 225 In an inch of space it is possible to insert varying numbers of letters in a particular type, as Elite (twelve to the inch) or Elite (ten to the inch). This spacing is referred to as the ‘pitch’ of the type. 1954 B. Bliven xii. 209 The correct term for size, in typewriter language, is ‘pitch’, a measure of letter-space width and a sloppy word because it doesn't tell, definitely, how tall the letters are. c1961 (Imperial Typewriter Co.) Elite type..is slightly smaller in size... Its normal ‘pitch’ is twelve letters per inch. 1990 (Nexis) 24 Aug. My word-processing program gives me double-spacing, a pitch of 10 letters per inch, and 66 lines to the page. 27. Chiefly Mechanics. The (usually fixed) distance between successive corresponding points or lines; spec.society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > [noun] > distance between parts 1815 J. Smith I. 362 If the teeth of one be wood and the other iron, then the iron ones are made to have less pitch than the wooden ones, because they are then found to wear better. 1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ 439 The teeth of the rack-way are of the same pitch as the teeth of a wheel whose axle is in the machine. 1875 E. H. Knight III. 1719/2 The pitch of the paddles is the distance between them, measured on the circle which passes through their centers. 1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. I. 275/1 The distance between the central points of two similar links..is called the pitch of the chain: it is nearly always one inch. 1946 L. Toft & A. T. J. Kersey (ed. 5) ix. 255 The ‘circular pitch’..of the teeth, is the distance from b to d, measured along the pitch circle pp. 1971 Nov. 677/2 The gratings are either flat or concave... The ‘pitch’ is 295 grooves/mm,..and finer spacings are expected to become available. 1985 E. Kerridge vi. 71 Their narrow scallops had a pitch of 1,200 if white and 1,100 if made in colours. 1996 33 180/1 There are four types of codemarks which can be applied to mail, all of which can be read by the latest sorting machines... 1. Standard 1/ 4″ pitch codemarks (i.e. the minimum distance between two bars is 1/ 4″). 1839 2 442/2 The screw [of the Archimedes] consisted of one whole turn of a single thread, 7 feet in diameter, and 8 feet pitch. 1879 ii. 66/2 The pitch of rifling of the Enfield is one turn in six feet six inches. 1890 25 Jan. 2/3 Most makers of implements now use only standard pitches of screws, so that any broken screw or missing nut can quickly be replaced. 1936 F. H. Colvin & F. A. Stanley v. 55 A double thread has a lead twice the pitch, a triple screw three times, and so on. 1953 25 Apr. 739/2 If there are ten phosphate groups arranged on each helix of diameter 20 A. and pitch 34 A., the phosphate ester backbone chain is in an almost fully extended state. 1988 Feb. 45/3 The pitch of the helical shank increases towards the chuck end to give rapid removal of debris. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > propulsion machinery > [noun] > propeller > specific attributes of propellers society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > means of propulsion > [noun] > aircraft engine > propeller > pitch 1853 O. Byrne 120/2 Ordinary screw propellers are not made nearly so long as what answer to a whole convolution, and in speaking of their pitch, therefore, it is necessary to imagine the screw to be continued through a whole convolution at the same angle of inclination with which it was begun. 1863 P. Barry 264 The pitch of the screw could be altered from the deck to suit the velocity of the vessel. 1944 ‘N. Shute’ i. 1 He heard, passing away above his head, the high scream of an ungeared engine in fine pitch. 1958 Aug. 39/2 The Rotodyne takes off vertically and climbs away as a helicopter, steering in the required direction being achieved by altering differentially the pitch of the airscrews. 1993 July 17/2 With the propeller in fairly fine pitch, pulling the throttle back means that the propeller will double as a very effective airbrake. 1854 S. Norris 240 The pitch of rivets is 17/ 8 in. 1874 S. J. P. Thearle (new ed.) I. 130 The spacing or pitch of rivets required by Lloyd's rules is ‘four and a half diameters apart, from centre to centre, excepting in the keel, stem, and stern post’. 1947 T. J. Reynolds & L. E. Kent (ed. 8) iv. 52 Minimum pitch of rivets.—The distance between centres of rivets shall not be less than three times the diameter of the rivet. 1985 (Nexis) 14 Nov. 59 The location of the rivet in the assembled product influences both joint strength and clinching requirements. The important dimensions are edge distance and pitch distance. 1967 11 Oct. 23 (caption) It can carry from 267 to 298 passengers at 34-inch seat pitch. 1994 Sept. 62/2 Pitch is..the distance between any given point on one seat—say, the armrest—and the same point on the seat in front of or behind it. 2003 (Nexis) 3 Jan. 9 All seats have the same narrow-body width throughout the cabin and the same knee-crunching 33-inch (84-centimeter) seat pitch or legroom. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > mountaineering or climbing > [noun] > pitch 1898 30 Mar. 3/2 The great gully that runs up the centre of the Wastwater Screes..was attempted in 1895 by three climbers, who conquered eight ‘pitches’, but were defeated by the ninth. 1904 J. N. Collie in 22 10 [The ridge] was impossible, being made up entirely of bare slabs and perpendicular pitches. 1935 D. Pilley i. 5 Each pitch or passage of the climb seemed as important as the Battle of Waterloo. 1954 59 One member of the party ascended the first pitch of Brant, and was then forced to abseil off, for nobody would, or could, follow him. 1956 R. C. Evans iii. 47 The leader climbs each pitch first, anchors himself to the rock, and takes in the rope as the second climbs to join him. 1972 D. Haston i. 8 When the pair [of rock-climbers] have run out one length of the rope between two stances a ‘pitch’ has been established. 1992 D. L. Baars viii. 76 (caption) Although tempting to rock climbers, the upper pitch is very crumbly, rotten rock and is highly dangerous. Compounds C1. a. (In sense 18a.) 1909 18 Nov. 4/7 One ‘pitch’ which was the envy of every pitchholder in London was for many years at the end of Burlington House. 2004 (Nexis) 5 May 9 He..was an occasional pitch holder at the town's Sunday market where he sold timber. b. (In sense 26.) 1899 30 44 If..we desire to indicate graphically on a plane surface the nature of any pitch changes under consideration, we can do so by supposing variation in pitch to take place vertically. 1966 J. Derrick iii. 114 Regular patterns of pitch-change at the heavily stressed syllables in an utterance make up the intonation of English. 1990 11 190 Once the nuclear tone of an utterance has been identified, a pitch-change implies a new tone unit. 1899 30 49 That form of pitch-movement which accompanies the recitation of poetry. 1959 D. Cooke ii. 109 Monteverdi and others, began to introduce more and more liberty of pitch-movement to express the rhetoric of human passion. 1997 41 419 Direction of pitch-movement or contour is..identical, but..there is a difference in pitch interval. 1921 10 16 This pitch pattern is here combined with another rhythmic element.., stamping the lines with a distinctively poetic pattern. 1961 36 215 An experimental pitch indicator for training deaf scholars... Deaf child is enabled to compare his own pitch pattern with that of his teacher. 1999 33 22 The conditional -reba follows a verb root and yields an interesting pitch pattern. 1917 B. 89 410 The total length of the basilar membrane..must surely represent more closely and directly than anything else the pitch-range of hearing. 1959 D. Cooke ii. 110 The ‘normal’ pitch-range of music is an overall spread from just above the treble clef to just below the bass clef. 1998 82 113 The narrow pitch range and oscillating, flattened contours..resemble the repetitive vocal intonations associated with expressions of comfort. 1933 L. Bloomfield v. 77 The fact that two utterances of the syllable man with different pitch-schemes are ‘the same’ speech-form in English, but ‘different’ speech-forms in Chinese, shows us that the working of language depends upon our habitually..discriminating some features of sound and ignoring all others. 1986 R. Brindle Smith (BNC) 23 The rhythmic design and pitch scheme are therefore extremely important. C2. the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > intonation, pitch, or stress > [noun] > accent > pitch accent 1873 Oct. 473 Probably the Latin began early to substitute stress for its old inherited pitch accent, but this tendency was somewhat checked by the cultivation of Greek forms of metre. 1933 C. D. Buck 161 Under accent one understands variations of either intensity or intonation, and speaks of a stress accent or a pitch accent according as one or the other element is the more conspicuous. 1958 14 149 To avoid unwarranted associations, it is better to speak of pitch accent and to leave the term stress to the domain of word stress. 2001 20 Sept. 68/1 The tribe's language, Carey realizes, ‘was in fact Indo-European but Indo-European filtered through a Chinese system of pitch-accents to the point where it sounded like nothing he knew’. the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > intonation, pitch, or stress > [adjective] > accent > pitch accent 1920 51 25 The musical interval between the pitch-accented syllable and the remaining unaccented syllables is a fifth. 1975 51 201 He does not distinguish between ‘normal’ and pitch-accented intonation contours. 1996 J. J. Venditti et al. in K. DeMuth & J. L. Morgan iv. xvii. 288 A pitch-accented syllable is more stressed than a merely heavy one. society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > qualities and parameters of aircraft > [noun] > axes of specific moments 1952 M. E. Hannah & K. Margolis (Nat. Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Tech. Note 2831) 1 Span load distributions for steady pitching velocity may be readily obtained for arbitrary location of the pitch axis. 1962 F. I. Ordway et al. ix. 368 Any vehicle motion will take place about three axes... These axes are the yaw axis, the pitch axis, and the roll axis. 2000 V. J. Gawron ii. 27 Further, there were no significant differences among display configurations for pitch-axis control reversal rate. society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > wheel > [noun] > cog or gear > used with chain > chain for 1844 H. Stephens II. 537 The pitch-chain is employed to communicate motion from the first mover—the carriage axle—to the seed-wheels. 1901 31 113 The pins or pivots of a pitch chain such as the driving chain of a bicycle always remain parallel to each other, however the shape of the chain may vary. 2001 (Nexis) 77 40 A range of pitch-chain sizes and turn assemblies from 6- to 48-inch diameters are available. society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > wheel > [noun] > parts of wheels > tooth > imaginary line through 1813 A. Rees (1819) XXIII. at Mill-work A circle..is described round the face of the rough cogs upon its pitch diameter, that is, the geometrical diameter, or acting line of the cogs; so that when the two wheels are at work together, the pitch circles..of the two are in contact. 1884 F. J. Britten (new ed.) 198 The pitch circles of a wheel and pinion working together should touch but not intersect each other. 2002 (Nexis) 5 Aug. 48 Backlash is the amount by which the width of a gear's tooth space exceeds the thickness of an engaging tooth measured at the pitch circle of the gears. the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > intonation, pitch, or stress > [noun] > intonation > pattern or sequence of 1944 Z. S. Harris in 20 202 In the case of the pitch contours, we begin with allophonic segments that contain pitch and stress features in them. 1959 E. Pulgram xviii. 136 One may invariably omit the registration of glottal pitch..because..the stylus-drawn pitch contour is unlikely to present faithfully the real pitch contour in the lower frequencies. 2001 (Nexis) 9 Feb. 30 Norwegian can distinguish two forms minimally by means of different pitch contours. society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > specific flying operations or procedures > [noun] > control of pitching motion society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > controls and instruments > [noun] > controls > devices to control altitude, attitude, or motion society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > means of propulsion > [noun] > aircraft engine > propeller > pitch 1930 15 Oct. 1/4 (caption) Rocker arm—the heart of the pitch control. 1944 W. C. Nelson iv. 89 Various types of automatic pitch control requiring no attention from the pilot have been devised. 1974 I. 373/1 Pitch control is obtained by means of movable flaps (elevators) hinged to the trailing edge of the stabilizer. 1995 25 June b1/1 The crash had been caused by a crack in the helicopter's pitch control horn. 1952 2 Sept. 10/7 We decided to keep a pitch count on the intra-city game on Sunday. 1984 22 Apr. c6/5 When he reached 100 pitches, well, he hasn't been at that pitch count this year, so I went with Tippy. 2001 11 Feb. 60/1 He was put on a strict pitch count because the Cardinals..didn't want to overwork his delicate young arm. the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > intonation, pitch, or stress > [noun] > intonation > pattern or sequence of 1902 E. W. Scripture xxxii. 478 The course of pitch is greatly influenced by the neighboring consonants; the more emphatic the consonant, the greater is its influence on the pitch-curve. 1969 50 327 Of all the recorded sentences..there were taken one duplex oscillogram..one pitch curve, and two intensity curves. This was done by inserting a pitch meter..and an intensity meter between the tape recorder and the registering apparatus. 1992 25 43 Part 1 on Pronunciation deals with and illustrates such aspects as word and sentence stress, pitch curves, stops and continuants. 1813 A. Rees (1819) XXIII. at Mill-work A circle..is described round the face of the rough cogs upon its pitch diameter, that is, the geometrical diameter, or acting line of the cogs; so that when the two wheels are at work together, the pitch circles..of the two are in contact. 1930 F. D. Jones I. 324 The number of revolutions made by gear b will equal..the pitch diameter of a divided by the pitch diameter of b. 1984 E. P. DeGarmo et al. (ed. 6) xxviii. 744 All design calculations relating to gear performance are based on the pitch-circle diameter or, more simply, the pitch diameter. 1875 E. Young 431 The style of architecture Gothic, the houses stone-built and pitch-faced. a1884 E. H. Knight Suppl. 686/1 Pitch-faced, the arris is cut true, but beyond the arris edge the face is relatively rough and projecting, the face being merely dressed with a pitching chisel. the world > space > relative position > inclination > [adjective] > inclined from level or sloping > steep (except of hills, etc.) a1382 [see sense 1a]. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. cclij By reason of..the headlong and pitchehill stepenes to looke downewardes. 1963 22 Jan. 3/7 Yesterday afternoon they [sc. the Scottish F.A.] announced that the matches were put back to tomorrow, with pitch inspections tomorrow morning. 1994 I. Botham vi. 105 Constant, Dickie Bird, Greg Chappell and myself had just returned from a fifth pitch inspection. 1968 31 Dec. 11/1 Lawry..would have had reason to complain had the game not finished tonight because of all the time lost through pitch invasions. 1995 20 May 16/1 They face a misconduct charge after 38 fans were arrested and 11 police officers injured during a pitch invasion. the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (intransitive)] > so as to fall on a particular place the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > features of stratum or vein > [noun] > length 1906 W. Lindgren & F. L. Ransome in No. 54. 205 If we assume that the shoot has an elongated, narrow shape, as usually is the case when projected on the plain of the vein, its geometrical relations may be designated as follows: Width or thickness, breadth, stope length, pitch length, and pitch... The pitch length..is the distance between the two extreme ends of the shoot; the pitch is the angle which the pitch length makes with the horizontal. 1965 G. J. Williams viii. 107/1 The bonanzas have generally a pitch-length exceeding the level-length. society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > wheel > [noun] > parts of wheels > tooth > imaginary line through 1787 J. Imison 41 The pitch line of the two bevel wheels, or the line where the teeth of the two wheels act on each other. 1815 J. Smith I. 362 The centre or pitch lines, from which the teeth are formed. 1981 M. A. Parker & F. Pickup (ed. 3) vi. 159 For a gear and rack in mesh the pitch line of the rack is tangential to the pitch circle of the gear. the world > matter > physics > science of sound > vibration > instrument for analysing vibration > [noun] society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > controls and instruments > [noun] > meters for types of motion 1947 51 166/1 A gust can be detected by a pitch-meter which produces a differential pressure on a diaphragm with change of vertical component of wind. 1969 23 255 An instrument used for measuring the frequency of the fundamental is commonly (and erroneously) called a pitchmeter. 1976 19 Aug. 12/6 Another new development is the electronic pitchmeter... A needle shows whether a note is sharp or flat of the required pitch, so that a piano could be successfully tuned in the middle of a factory floor if necessary. 2001 (Nexis) 28 Jan. e1 Morel handles the ‘voicing’ of the pipes, tapping a small flange at the opening of each pipe's mouth until a pitch meter tells him he has crafted the right note. society > leisure > the arts > music > written or printed music > notation > [noun] > types of notation 1875 (1st Sess., 1874–5) 18 (title) On a suggested simplification of the established pitch-notation. 1881 J. Broadhouse 373 On a full consideration of the question of pitch-notation. 1981 44 482 The system of notation used in NSHA is a version of the simple syllabic, mnemonic pitch-notation still in use today. society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > [noun] > note determining pitch 1765 L. Sterne VII. xxv. 85 The abbess, giving the pitch note, set off thus. 1852 R. S. Surtees xv. 75 We all have our pitch-notes of propriety up to which we play. 1882 G. H. Boker 91 She..sinks the pitch-note of her choir. 1997 (Nexis) 21 Jan. The idea that you need melody or pitch notes all the time to make music is a Western hangup. 1902 16 Dec. 3/2 Her voice is clear, resonant and strong and her attack is sure and pitch perfect. 1970 68 195/2 He never fails to hear the comic or ironic intonation of a line... He senses the transformations as well as the borrowings. His ear is pitch-perfect. 1994 Mar. 135 A pitch perfect (and thus unsettling) memory of the Seventies. 2002 I. Knight xiv. 189 We're on to lipliner now, and I smile as I remember Frank's pitch-perfect imitation of Yungsta's patois cadences. 1931 L. Bloomfield in 7 206 The modern languages of Europe similarly use certain pitch-phonemes at the end of largest-forms: our falling pitch at the end of statements and our rising pitches for the two kinds of questions. 1973 4 17 In the field of English intonation studies, bones of contention..spring readily to mind:..pitch phonemes versus tones. 2002 6 272/2 The separation into pitch accents..and boundary tones..harks back to Trager & Smith Jr.'s (1951) juncture phonemes..which existed by the side of the pitch phonemes. society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > wheel > [noun] > parts of wheels > tooth > imaginary line through > point of contact of 1859 W. J. M. Rankine §153. 181 The position of the pinion should be such, that the pitch-point, where its teeth are driven by those of the cogged ring, may be in the same vertical plane parallel to the axis. 1986 A. 403 317 The basic condition that the angular velocity ratio is equal to the gear ratio requires that the common normal at the point of contact between the teeth passes through the pitch point P. the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > management of plants > propagation of plants > [noun] > by cuttings > cutting or slip 1519 W. Horman xx. f. 172 A pychesette of wythy: groweth anon. 1984 Re: Sped-up Rec. in net.music (Usenet newsgroup) 11 July There is a device called a Harmonizer produced by Eventide Clockworks (other similar devices followed) that is simply a pitch shifter. 2001 June 52/1 The pitchshifter can add some interesting harmonies and the flanger/chorus provides some of that electric mistress metallic clang and a host of other stuff. 1869 W. J. M. Rankine iv. 82 The pitch surface of a toothed wheel or of a toothed rack is an ideal smooth surface, intermediate between the crests of the teeth and the bottoms of the spaces between them, which, by rolling contact with the pitch surface of another wheel, would communicate the same velocity-ratio that the teeth communicate by their sliding contact. 1887 D. A. Low (1892) 40 A section of the pitch surface of a toothed wheel by a plane perpendicular to its axis is a circle, and is called a pitch circle. 1991 (Nexis) 34 No. 12. a255 In gearing of other types, axial pitch may be confined to the pitch surface and may be a circular measurement. society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > wheel > [noun] > cog or gear 1854 28 Oct. 56/4 The projection bar, G, is fixed to a pendant bar of the framework;..d d, e e, f f, and g g, are pitch wheels, whose several uses are obvious. 1867 21 Sept. 178/3 The motion is imparted to the driving wheels by a pitch chain passing over a pinion in connection with the gearing, and a large pitch wheel turning on the same shaft with the driving wheels. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). pitchv.1 Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: pitch n.1 society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with coating or covering materials > work with coating or covering materials [verb (transitive)] > tar society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > surfacing or cladding > clad or cover [verb (transitive)] > clad or cover with other materials the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > soiled condition > soil [verb (transitive)] > soil with specific substances society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > build a ship [verb (transitive)] > fit out or equip > clean and coat ship's bottom > smear with pitch the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > [verb (transitive)] > brand or mark α. eOE (Royal) (1865) i. ii. 26 Gedo on wæter xxx nihta on ænne croccan þone þe sie gepicod utan. c1300 St. Brendan (Harl.) 97 in C. Horstmann (1887) 222 (MED) Hi leten hem diȝte a gret schip..wiþ bole-huden..ynailed þerto..& siþþe ipiched al aboue þat þe water necome. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 241 Oon hatte schippe picche, for schippes beþ y-pycched [L. liniuntur; 1495 pytched] þer with..to kepe þat water schal nouȝt come in to þe schip. 1496 in M. Oppenheim (1896) 176 xj barelles peche to pyche the said shipp. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach iii. f. 150v Let him pitch euery Sowe and her Pigs with a seuerall marke. 1601 R. Dolman tr. P. de la Primaudaye III. 311 Of the oldest pines is pitch made, which is called Nauall, by reason that it is very good to pitch Ships. 1666 Duchess of Newcastle 8 They were pitched to keep out water. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot i. 110 Without it you would pitch all your cloaths. 1716 T. Hearne (1901) V. 260 Theire Money was brought thither in Barrells, pitch'd up. 1751 (ed. 7) A coarse strong canvas, pitched over, and girt with iron hoops. 1817 1st Ser. 1861 The deponent declared, that he had seen men pitched and tarred, and hunted through the streets, on whom torture was afterwards inflicted. 1853 A. R. Wallace ii. 43 A substance used for pitching boats. 1903 G. W. James (ed. 3) viii. 114 These baskets are frequently pitched for boats or ‘Moses' arks’. 1987 M. Kochanski (1988) vii. 205 It is possible to make a waterproof mocock without having to pitch the seams if fresh bark is used. the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > make dark [verb (transitive)] 1664 J. Dryden ii. i. 22 O call that Night again; Pitch her with all her Darkness round. a1700 J. Dryden On Death Amyntas in (1704) V. 17 But soon he found The Welkin pitch'd with sullen Clouds around. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022). pitchv.2Origin: Of uncertain origin. Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps the reflex of an unattested Old English weak Class I verb *piccan (past tense *pihte ; compare Old English past tense nēalǣhte beside infinitive nēalǣcan (see neighleche v.; compare also clitch v.)), perhaps originally a causative formation from the stem of pick v.1 (i.e. meaning ‘to cause to pierce’); however, pick v.1 is itself not attested from the Old English period, and it is uncertain whether its stem vowel was long or (as required for this formation) short (compare discussion at that entry). Compare post-classical Latin picchiare to pitch (hay) (1330 in a British source; compare sense 13b), picchare to set up, erect (a sheepfold) (1334 in a British source; compare sense 4a), to pave, cobble (1454 in a British source; compare sense 3c), Anglo-Norman piccher to drive in (of foundation piles) (1387–8 in an apparently isolated attestation). Compare pick v.2, pight v.The existence of the regional variant pick v.2 and its comparatively early attestation perhaps support the theory that the verb goes back to Old English. I. To thrust in, fix in, set in place, etc. the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > making holes or becoming holed > make (an opening or hole) [verb (transitive)] > make an opening or hole in or into > bore, pierce, or perforate > with something sharp-pointed a1275 in C. Brown (1932) 9 (MED) Childing-pine haues te nou picht. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 1174 Ȝif þer eni ssipes come..Hii [sc. iron stakes] ssolde piche hom þoru out. c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 206 (MED) On wiþ tresoun þere Þurch þe bodi him piȝt. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) John xix. 37 Thei schulen se in to whom they piȝten [v.r. putteden; L. transfixerunt] thorw. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 100v Morphea is incurable ȝif þe skyn of þe face is I-piȝt & pricked [L. puncta] wiþ a nedle & blediþ nouȝt. c1450 (c1370) G. Chaucer 163 Longius his herte pighte, And made his herte blood to renne adoun. ?a1475 (1922) 169 (MED) Popetys..I xal puttyn in peyne, with my spere prevyn, pychyn, and to pende. the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fastening > condition of being fast bound or firmly fixed > make fast [verb (transitive)] > fasten or fix > in something > by thrusting in its point c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) 3235 He igrap his spere stronge, þer he pihte hit o þon londe [c1300 Otho þar hit was ipiht in londe]. c1300 St. Christopher (Laud) 107 in C. Horstmann (1887) 274 (MED) Þine staf piche in þe grounde, And he schal bere lef. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1965) Ecclus. xii. 11 Þe woordis of wise men as prickes & as nailes in to heiȝte piȝt [a1425 L.V. fastned deepe; L. in altum defixi]. a1425 J. Wyclif (1871) II. 170 (MED) After þis neiþer chawle, in which ben piȝt many teeþ..þe over chawl is nedeful. a1439 J. Lydgate (Bodl. 263) ii. 494 (MED) Saul took the pomel off his suerd, And in the ground ful deepe anon it piht. ?a1500 in J. O. Halliwell (1839) 27 (MED) Let hym stonde and there pitche a staffe, the vpper poynte thereof to be juste with his yie. 1599 E. Ford xxix. sig. Cc3v The day was come nigh which Parismenos should be burnt, to which intent Maximus caused a stake to bee pitched in the chiefest place of the Cittie. 1633 D. Rogers To Rdr. sig. *3v A planter takes the sien of the Apple-tree, and pitches it into a Crab-tree Stock. a1639 J. Dyke (1640) xiii. 180 A stake, or a post is pitched in the ground. 1647 N. Ward 32 The stakes [of a tent] firmely pitched. 1719 D. Defoe 68 In this half Circle I pitch'd two Rows of strong Stakes. 1775 J. Jekyll Let. 29 Mar. in (1894) i. 2 The houses [are] chiefly built of the round sea-pebbles pitched in mortar. 1831 10 Dec. 4/5 It was determined to pitch the stakes [for a boxing match] in a field near Pegburn Leys. 1882 R. Jefferies II. xxiii They took an iron bar with them and pitched the stakes for the fence. 1989 (Nexis) 7 Sept. m5 You could just pitch the stakes under a tree, and you had a place to throw horseshoes. 3. the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > provide or supply (a person or thing) with anything > stock (a place, etc.) with something the world > space > place > presence > fact of taking up space > take up (space or a place) [verb (transitive)] > fill > stuff or cram c1300 St. Vincent (Laud) 106 in C. Horstmann (1887) 187 (MED) Heo setten him in a swyþe deork put..So ful of sweordes pointes i-piȝte ase Mede is ful of gras. c1400 (?c1380) (1920) 83 (MED) Bryngez hem blyþly to borȝe..So þat my palays plat ful be pyȝt al aboute. c1475 (c1420) J. Page (Egerton) (1876) 17 (MED) He made a dyche of grete coste, Pyght with stakys that wolde perysce. c1540 (?a1400) 4056 Agamynon..broght A hundrith shippes..Pight full of pepull & mony prise knight. 1541 T. Elyot xxxvi. f. 86v The daungerouse rase of auctoritie pyght full of peryls. 1577 R. Holinshed II. 1196/1 A large trench..pight full of sharpe stakes, with a greate rampire fenced with bulwarkes, and turnepykes. ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer ix. 337 [He] Cut a dike by it, pitch'd with pales, broad and of deep import. 1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre i. 24 in tr. Procopius Pitching the top with multitude of stakes. the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > jewellery > making jewellery or setting with jewels > set or stud (something) with gems [verb (transitive)] c1300 St. Patrick's Purgatory (Laud) 463 in C. Horstmann (1887) 213 Þat ȝat schon swype briȝte, ase þei it al gold were, Folle of derewurþe stones i-piȝte. c1390 (Vernon) 108 (MED) Þe pyon, þe peere, wel proudliche Ipiht. c1400 (?c1380) 217 (MED) Pyȝt watz poyned & vche a hemme At honde, at sydez, at ouerture, Wyth whyte perle. 1480 W. Caxton ccxli. 273 Croune of gold pyght with ryche perle and precious stones. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil i. ix. 133 The collar picht with orient peirlis als. a1661 T. Fuller (1662) Northampt. 298 He wore a gown of purple velvet, pight with pieces of gold. society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > paving and road-building > pave or build roads [verb (transitive)] > pave > pave in specific way 1550 (1872) 57 In this yere, was Redclif strete..new pight. 1641 J. Trapp vi. 251 Hell (the pavement whereof was commonly said to be pitcht with shavelings skuls, and great mens crests). 1666 c. 8 §18 The order and manner of paving and pitching the Streets and Lanes. 1682 A. Wood (1894) III. 25 In this month..was the highway..pitched with peebles and hard stone. 1742 in W. Albert & P. D. A. Harvey (1973) App. iii. 178 Materials..to be used for..pitching the Pavements. 1796 H. Wansey 39 Their foot ways are not yet paved with flat stones, the horse and foot way being alike pitched with pebbles, and posts and a gutter to divide them. 1840 1 iv. 360 These carriers down the slopes are pitched with strong limestone, and grouted with lime and water. 1889 ‘M. Gray’ I. 175 The large flints with which the court was pitched. 1905 25 Aug. 5/3 In addition to flagging and pitching several roads. 1934 20 Sept. 7/1 The area pitched with precast concrete blocks is nearly 35,000 square yards. 2003 (Nexis) 21 June 7 The path had been carefully pitched with stone treads to combat erosion. 4. the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > place or put in a position [verb (transitive)] > fix or establish in position c1300 (c1250) (Cambr.) (1966) l. 214 Ine þe bureȝ amidde riȝt Beoþ twe tures ipiȝt. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Zeph. i. 12 Y shal visite vpon alle men piȝt in her darstis. c1400 (?c1380) (1920) 477 (MED) Þe doue..fyndez no folde her fote on to pyche. c1450 (c1350) (Bodl.) (1929) 1135 (MED) Þere his burnus he bad bulden of marbre A piler sadliche ipicht. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil x. iii. 44 Ane circulet of plyabyll gold..Abuf hys haris apon hys hed weil pycht. 1551 R. Record i. xi Then pitch one foote of your compasse at the one ende of the line. 1579 E. Spenser Dec. 134 And in my face deepe furrowes eld hath pight. 1612 M. Drayton xvi. 249 Their mightier Empire, there, the middle English pight. 1693 J. Clayton in (Royal Soc.) 17 946 In stiff Soyls, if the Crops be not early pitch'd,..the Roots never spread or shoot deeper. 1703 (new ed.) 220 Take care that in pitching the Globe into the Mandrel, that the imaginary Axis..lye in a straight Line with the Axis of the Mandrel. 1768 H. Downman xxii. 8 A wond'rous tow'r, Which hence thou seest high in the air y-pight. 1848 9 ii. 553 Pitching the holes at equal distances from the centre of the hill. 1899 24 Apr. 4/5 Fireman S. ‘pitched’ his machine against the burning building, and succeeded in bringing the woman safely to the ground. 1941 V. Woolf 12 The man who had built Pointz Hall had pitched the house in a hollow. society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > paving and road-building > pave or build roads [verb (transitive)] > pave > pave in specific way > set stone on end 1530 Gen. xxviii. f. xli Iacob..toke the stone..and pitched it vp an ende. 1598 J. Stow 177 On the south side of this high street..is pitched vpright a great stone called London stone. a1623 W. Pemble (1629) 159 Markes or Bound-Stones should be pitcht up. a1643 J. Shute (1649) 203 Jacob taketh one of the stones that he had laid his head upon, and pitched it up for a pillar. c1720 N. Dubois & G. Leoni tr. A. Palladio III. iii. 9 A range of Stones pitch'd edge-way. 1776 G. Semple 55 The thorough Foundation..is laid over with large Stones, Hough and Ham, and some pitched upon their Ends. 2003 (Nexis) 18 Oct. 34 The principle of stone pitching is really quite basic... Stones are dug into the ground and pitched so that the long axis of the rock is vertical, leaving a face of the stone as a level walking surface. the world > space > place > position or situation > take up position [verb (reflexive)] 1687 W. Hope vi. 135 You must pitch your self to the same Guard with your Small sword, as you do with your Broad. 5. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabiting temporarily > camping or encamping > pitch (tent or camp) [verb (transitive)] c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 4254 (MED) Þe king..bigan to picche [v.r. puthe] is pauilons him vor to abyde. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 272 Where euere þe kyng comaundeþ, þere þe oþere [bees] piccheþ here tentes [L. figunt castra]. 1436 in J. H. Fisher et al. (1984) 161 Heþat calleth him Duc of Bourgoigne..hath pighte his tentes with Inne oure Pale of þe marches. 1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan i. xiv. 37 For to pydche and dresse vp tentes. 1508 (Chepman & Myllar) sig. aviv Thai plantit doun ane pailyeoun..that proudly wes picht With rapis of rede gold riale to see. 1535 1 Macc. ix. 33 Ionathas and Symon his brother..pitched their tentes by the water pole of Asphar. 1609 W. Shakespeare v. xi. 24 You proud abhominable tents: Thus proudly pitcht [1623 pight] vpon our Phrigian plaines. 1644 J. Milton 29 He who thinks we are to pitch our tent here. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot ii. 122 We were fain to encamp hard by under Carpets, which we pitched instead of Tents. 1719 D. Defoe 68 On the Flat of the Green..I resolv'd to pitch my Tent. 1759 S. Johnson II. xxxvii. 82 The tents were pitched where I chose to rest. 1819 W. Scott I. vii. 135 On a platform beyond the southern entrance..were pitched five magnificent pavilions. 1891 W. Morris xxii. 164 We landed there, and were looking about for a place whereon to pitch our tents. 1933 F. H. Cheley 432 An ‘A’ tent is almost as easy to pitch, especially if it is hung on a ridge rope tied between two trees. 1986 M. Hughes vi. 86 We'll make a fire in this open glade and pitch our tents while we can still see what we're doing. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabiting temporarily > camping or encamping > camp or encamp [verb (intransitive)] the world > space > place > position or situation > be positioned or situated [verb (intransitive)] > take up position society > inhabiting and dwelling > [verb (intransitive)] > establish residence 1535 Josh. xi. A All these kinges..came, and pitched together by ye water of Meram. 1610 II. 1 Macc. ix. 33 They fled into the desert of Thecua, and they pitched by the water of the lake Asphar. 1629 T. Hobbes tr. Thucydides ii. 127 To chuse..a commodious place to pitch in. a1701 H. Maundrell (1703) 17 We pitch'd in the Campagnia. 1720 D. Defoe ii. 155 There was no need to go out to seek the Enemy after this; for they came..and pitched in Sight of us. 1792 J. Belknap III. 201 The first settlers pitched here, but the trade has long since been removed..about four miles further up. 1801 Misc. Tracts 284/2 The uncle of the Rajah..invited us to pitch the next day on a spot close to the palace. 1827 J. F. Cooper I. v. 78 There were fifty others [sc. squatters] who had pitched in that neighbourhood with just the same assistance from the law. 1852 G. Grote IX. ii. lxx. 77 The succeeding troops, coming up in the dark, pitched as they could without any order. 1925 V. Woolf 171 Haymakers, who had pitched beneath hedges to sleep away the morning toil. 1989 11/1 Pitch against a hedge which is into wind, so that most of the force is unable to reach your tent. 1569 R. Grafton I. 411 King Henrie..came to Hounslow hethe, and there pitched his campe. 1581 A. Hall tr. Homer iv. 71 His campe ypitched By Asope floud. 1587 A. Fleming et al. (new ed.) III. 981/1 There they pitched [1577 pight] downe their campe. 1611 B. Jonson iv. sig. I3v Their Campe's in Italy, Pitch'd in the iawes. View more context for this quotation 1679 J. Davies tr. Appian i. vii. 208 He brought the Army in safety, and pitch'd Camp before Ocylis. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil 112 The Youth of Rome..pitch their sudden Camp before the Foe. View more context for this quotation 1781 E. Gibbon II. xxvi. 612 The camp of Valens, which he pitched under the walls of Hadrianople. 1816 W. Scott I. xiv. 305 ‘You may defeat the Romans in spite of Tacitus.’ ‘And pitch Agricola's camp at the Kaim.’ 1860 J. W. Warter II. 127 It was necessary to remove the camp from the place where it was pitched. 1901 12 Apr. 3/6 Defendant..pitched a caravan on the grass. 1912 H. Belloc 105 The army had marched ten miles, and there the second camp was pitched. 1995 Feb. 33 A research team from the National Marine Fisheries Service pitched camp in a stand of lodgepole pine. 1691 H. Kelsey 1 Aug. (1929) 9 Wee pitched again & Gott to the River Aforesd. where they appointed to meet us. 1774 S. Hearne 4 Nov. (1934) 127 They are to Pitch this way as soon as Possable. 1857 J. Palliser (1863) 45 We determined to pitch along the base of the hill to the westward. 1922 May 8/1 I sent word to the Iroquois advising them to ‘pitch up’ in different directions hunting. 1929 H. J. Moberly & W. B. Cameron 96 Their families, who were pitching along from Lac. Ste. Anne. the world > existence and causation > creation > [verb (transitive)] > construct c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) p. 416 (MED) Michel he was, of bodi y-piȝt, A man he semed of michel miȝt & of gret bounte. ?c1335 in W. Heuser (1904) 176 Nis þis bastun wel ipiȝte? a1400 (?c1300) (Egerton) (1937) 79 (MED) Mony men gan hem byholde..Of body how wel þey were pyȝt And how feire þey were of syȝt. c1425 (c1400) 2720 (MED) Alle here schippis were redy dyght And fraught with vitayles and wel pight. 1490 (1962) xiv. 47 All thassystents..sayde that they neuere sawe no fayrer man of armes, nor better pyght. 1611 R. Cotgrave Compacte, compacted; well set, knit, trust, pight, or ioyned together. 7. figurative. the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > take joy or delight in [verb (transitive)] > fix a state of jollity the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > introduction or bringing in > introduce or bring something in [verb (transitive)] > implant 1340 (1866) 199 Hi is..y-piȝt [c1450 Bk. Vices & Virtues y-sett] ine god and wylneþ..uor to by alneway mid Iesu crist. 1372 in C. Brown (1924) 76 (MED) Wol loweliche þat lord gan lithte..In pouerte þat prince him pitthe. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 140v Briddes..haueþ a semynal vertue of kynde I-pight [L. insitam] in ham. c1450 in F. J. Furnivall (1867) 94 (MED) In iolite whan þou art piȝt, Þinke þat ȝonge wole go þe fro. ?a1475 (1922) 1 (MED) Lucyfer, þat Angell so gay, in suche pompe þan is he pyth..þat goddys sete he gynnyth to take. c1475 (a1400) J. Wyclif (1880) 307 (MED) Þise men ben boren aboute bi wyndis of vnstablenesse..for hem wantiþ þe rote of loue þat shulde be picchid in goddis lawe. a1500 (a1460) (1897–1973) 285 (MED) What mytyng is that..I, lord, youre counsellore, pight in youre saw. society > faith > aspects of faith > [verb (transitive)] > place one's faith in the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > observe, note [verb (transitive)] > direct attentively > of the eyes a1500 (c1380) J. Wyclif (1880) 480 (MED) We hopen to be sauyd..& oure bileue & hope is picchid in þe grace of iesu crist. 1549 R. Crowley sig. Aiiiiv Se that thy fayth be pitched On thy Lord God most constauntly. 1591 J. Lyly v. i. sig. H3 Pitching his eyes fast to the ground, as though they were fixed to the earth. 1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso i. xlviii. 10 She fled..And left her image in his hart ipight. 1639 T. Fuller v. xxv. 272 He pitched his thoughts on the Holy warre. 1688 J. Bunyan 64 She thought He pitched His innocent Eyes just upon her. a1716 R. South (1744) XI. 305 Having pitched his mind upon this object, his spiritual appetites were boundless. 1820 L. Hunt 2 Aug. 339 Lamia..pitching her mind among the enjoyments of Corinth. 1842 C. Mathews ii. 18 Pitch your eye upon the second button from the top. 1954 1 June 3/2 Mr. J. Ferguson..pitched his hopes on an each-way chance. 2003 (Nexis) 17 Aug. c5 He pitched the minds of those American players on believing something that just never, ever should've been possible. society > trade and finance > selling > sell [verb (transitive)] > expose or offer for sale 1530 in W. H. Turner (1880) 80 [They] did..take away x semys of see fyshe.., and pyched them in the parishe of Saynt Mary's, and ther sette it to sale. 1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero ii. f. 73 When the salestaffe was pight: and in the market place. 1770 ‘Orphanotrophian’ I. iv. 33 As he was walking along the keys he observed some Hops, just pitched. 1802 6 All corn should be brought into the market, and pitched, as in former times. 1861 R. T. Hulme tr. C. H. Moquin-Tandon ii. iii. 165 No less than 36,487 tons of meat are annually ‘pitched’ at Newgate and Leadenhall Markets. 1884 26 Sept. 7/1 At Melton Mowbray cheese fair yesterday some 100 dozen cheese were pitched. 1909 21 Sept. 1/2 Twelve hundred pockets of new hops were pitched. the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > place or put in a position [verb (transitive)] > place and make fast the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fastening > condition of being fast bound or firmly fixed > make fast [verb (transitive)] > with stakes, poles, etc. 1533 tr. Erasmus xxxii. sig. Qvijv Howe many snares dethe pytcheth for vs. 1545 Tendere plagas, to pytche hayes or nettes. 1602 W. Warner Epitome Hist. Eng. in (rev. ed.) 390 [They] pitched their Tewe to intangle the same protector. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil 113 The dext'rous Huntsman..pitches Toyls to stop their Flight. View more context for this quotation 1750 G. Hughes x. 309 The common Method of taking them [sc. turtles], is to pitch Nets with very large Meshes, in the Bays where they frequent. 1813 W. Scott iii. 149 There's time to pitch both toil and net. 1866 J. B. Rose tr. Ovid 48 There doth he pight his net and pitch his snare. c1554 in J. W. Gough (1931) 6 After that fyrst lycence..[the miner] to be at hys fre wyll to pyche wythyn the sayd forest of Mendyp and to brecke the ground where..he..shaull thynk best. 1573 Orders & Anc. Customs of Lead Miners in (1900) 20 542 If another do pitch lawfully..do fall upon a Stone,..then ye Second Pitcher shall not burn, nor break ye Stone. 11. 1623 H. Cockeram iii Iohn de monte Regio..made a small iron Fly to..flye about all the roome, and returne and pitch on his sleeue. 1724 J. Morgan tr. L. E. Du Pin & J. de Vayrac II. i. iv. 144 A Swarm of Bees and a Flight of Birds came and pitch'd upon the Roof of his House. 1789 10 Oct. 7 A Fly pitched upon his Leg. 1827 D. Johnson (ed. 2) 91 An owl pitched immediately over our heads. 1895 A. A. Leith 96 Lower an' lower they swept, till their shiny tails near petch'd an the folded lily leaves that laid an the pond. 1965 in (1982) 380/2 And then the geese come and pitch. 1988 Aug. 24/1 South-west Asian species cross Europe to pitch on our lands. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping birds > [verb (transitive)] > train or fly pigeons 1765 106 [Certain pigeons] are exceeding good to pitch stray Pigeons that are at a loss to find their own home. the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of sitting > be sitting or seated [verb (intransitive)] > sit down the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of sitting > sit down [verb (reflexive)] 1796 7 279 He..could not carry the amount..for the distance of one mile without pitching. 1844 E. Jesse I. 254 The cottager's wife will ask [him] to sit down in that hearty Devonshire phrase,..‘Do'y Sir, pitch yourself’—bringing forward a chair. 1844 W. Barnes Gloss. 335 Do ye pitch yourzelf in a chair. 1897 I. Hammond 338 Won't you pitch a bit? 1909 129 ‘Plaze to pitch, ma'am!’ Labourer's wife, aged 40 to 50, to rector's wife at Coryton. II. To cast, throw, or fall forwards. 12. the world > movement > impact > impinge [verb (intransitive)] > forcibly or violently the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > fall [verb (intransitive)] > fall down or from erect position > specifically of person or animal > severely or violently c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 673 (MED) He let him makie wengen..& þo he was iflowe an hei..to þen erþe he vel & piȝte. 1596 E. Spenser v. viii. sig. S6v In his fall misfortune h[i]m mistooke; For on his head vnhappily he pight . View more context for this quotation 1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in 74 Forward he flew, and pitching on his Head, He quiver'd with his Feet, and lay for Dead. 1748 T. Smollett I. xi. 75 By a jolt of the carriage, [he] pitched directly upon the stomach of the captain, who bellowed out. 1796 J. Morse (new ed.) I. 480 A large pine has been seen..to pitch over endwise. 1857–8 E. H. Sears iv. 30 Columbus had to argue..that, when he came upon this side of the world he would not be in danger of pitching off into nowhere. 1881 G. F. Jackson Suppl. 318 Peck, pick..to pitch forward, to go head first; to over-balance. 1902 O. Wister vi. 70 My anxiety to own the ducks caused me to pitch into the water with all my clothes on. 1945 H. L. Mencken 23 Jan. (1989) 348 He might try to kill himself—say, by getting out of his room at night and pitching down a stairway in his chair. 1987 G. Keillor (1988) 226 He pitched over from a mild heart attack and died of a concussion when his head hit the clean concrete. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > bowl [verb (intransitive)] > land (of ball) 1816 W. Lambert 32 If a Ball should pitch short of its proper length on the off side, and should twist toward the top of the wicket, the Striker must be very careful in playing back that he does not hit his own wicket. 1843 ‘Wykhamist’ 11 All balls pitching between the first line and the crease..are technically termed half vollies. 1888 A. G. Steel in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) iii. 133 If he misjudges the ball, and allows it to pitch directly beneath his bat, although the ball pitches as far from the crease as he is standing. 1912 H. Vardon 20 Whenever..I took an iron club in my hand, I could tell to within two or three yards not only where the ball would pitch, but where it would stop. 1947 N. Cardus i. 79 I was certain the ball had pitched off the wicket. 1977 17 Jan. 7/1 Patel received the perfect ball from Underwood which pitched on his middle stump and hit the off. 2004 (Nexis) 15 July 1 His ball pitched just past the flag but spun back into the hole. 13. the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] the world > space > direction > direct [verb (transitive)] > cause to fall in specific direction c1380 (1879) 3636 (MED) His herte wax angry & ful of mod, & was ful heghe y-pyȝt. c1385 G. Chaucer 2689 His hors for feere gan to turne And leep..And er that Arcite may taken keep, He pighte [v.r. pite] hym on the pomel of his heed. c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) ii. 8303 (MED) From his hors he fil doun a-side, Ful perlously piȝte vp-on his hed. a1500 (a1460) (1897–1973) 269 (MED) In payn has thou no pere, that is withoutten pight. c1540 (?a1400) 8258 Achilles..Grippet to a grete speire with a grym wille, Pight on the prinse, persit his wede. 1579 W. Wilkinson f. 41v The other doth pitch down hedlong both body and soule into euerlasting torments. a1606 J. Lyly (1632) v. iii The Gods haue pitched it [sc. Lesbos] out of the World, as not to be controld by any in the World. 1766 (ed. 2) V. ix. 292 The boys are bred up to shoot with arrows and pitch the lance. 1772 S. Whyte 265 Jove pitch'd me forward from the Stair-head; 'And, down I sows'd upon my bare Head. 1785 T. Jefferson v. 34 So steep, that you may pitch a biscuit from its summit into the river which washes its base. 1815 W. Scott vi. xiii. 238 As far as one might pitch a lance. 1829 in J. S. Farmer (1964) 109 Jolly vas I..and pitched care to the devil. 1885 25 July 971/2 He was within an ace of pitching himself headforemost into the wildest of gorges. 1911 J. Muir 149 Then the Don..pitched a few of the terrified unfortunates into the stream. 1949 V. S. Reid iii. i. 258 But after times they would no' walk much again, but stood in their finery looking lost and pitching flat stones out to sea. 1989 Spring 34/1 A further criterion is whether the traveller is to be pitched directly into an important meeting or negotiation on arrival. the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > harvesting > harvest (a crop) [verb (transitive)] > pitch with fork c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. vi. 13 (MED) Canstow..coke for my cokers, oþer to þe cart picche, Mowe oþer mowen, oþer make bond to sheues? 1550 R. Crowley sig. Aviv Or pitcheth vp the sheues from the carte to the mowe. 1612 B. Jonson ii. iii. sig. D4v O, I look'd for this. The hay is a pitching . View more context for this quotation 1681 P. Henry (1882) 307 From ye lower Haybay & Tavelett they pitcht it & carry'd it on Pikehils to ye Carts. 1746 (ed. 3) i. 4 Last Harrest wey the young Dick Vrogwill, whan George Vuzz putch'd. 1764 170/1 Beddingfield..had pitched a load of wheat. 1796 W. Marshall I. 177 The Sheaves..are..‘pitched’ from the point of a prong, formed very narrow in the tines, over the head of the pitcher. 1839 C. Clarke liv When he'd done pitchin' hay. a1878 T. Bayard (1907) 245 William raked, and Israel hoed, and Joseph pitched with me. 1929 L. F. Carr iv. 155 The city boy is just as awkward when he tries to milk a cow or pitch hay. 1990 Winter 86/2 They pitched hay and drove farm machinery. society > law > legal profession > practice law [verb (transitive)] > deprive of status of lawyer > of barrister the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > degrade [verb (transitive)] ?1593 H. Chettle sig. G1 One..that..was not long since disgraded of his place by pitching ouer the Barre. 1652 R. Brome I He was an Attorney, till he was pitch'd over the Bar. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > athletics > contend in athletics [verb (intransitive)] > throw weight, shot, etc. 1600 S. Rowlands Satyre iv. sig. D8v To pitch the barre, or to shoote off a gunne. 1638 T. Nabbes (1882) I. ii. ii. 120 He pitcheth the barr and throws the stone. 1718 M. Prior Alma i, in (new ed.) 331 While John for Nine-pins does declare; And Roger loves to pitch the bar. 1885 July 399/1 The whalers on Nantucket strove to excel in an ancient English sport called ‘pitching the bar’. 1926 18 June 17/5 Foot-racing, jumping, pitching the bar and hammer, [etc.]. 2003 (Nexis) 1 June 13 Robert Dover established an English version of the Olympic Games..at Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, that is still held annually in June. Events included card games, chess, dancing, running, jumping, throwing the hammer, pitching the bar, wrestling and shin kicking. society > leisure > sport > types of play, actions, or postures > [verb (transitive)] > other actions or types of play society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > quoits > games resembling quoits > play game [verb (transitive)] > throw (object) at mark 1717 J. Ozell in J. Dryden et al. tr. Ovid x. 340 They strip, then, smooth'd with suppling Oyl, essay To pitch the rounded Quoit, their wonted Play [L. latique ineunt certamina disci]. 1821 Aug. 35/2 The parties stand at a little distance and pitch the halfpenny to a mark or gog. 1834 29 Mar. 135/1 Some were wrestling, others jumping, others running, and others pitching quoits. 1989 E. L. Doctorow i. ii. 22 The other guys pitched pennies against the wall. the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (intransitive)] > so as to fall on a particular place society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [verb (transitive)] > deliver ball society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > bowl [verb (transitive)] the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] > so as to fall on a particular place 1772 Noble Game of Cricket song in 18-22 Aug. Ye Bowlers take heed,..Spare your vigour at first,.. But measure each step, and be sure pitch your length. 1773 43 568 For honest Lumpey did allow He ne'er could pitch but o'er a brow. 1803 7 The ball, which the bowler..shall have pitched in a straight line to the wicket. 1851 J. Pycroft viii. 165 Then, with a much higher toss and slower pace..he pitches a little short of the usual spot. 1910 14 Sept. 19/3 Most of the batsmen jumped in to drive him whenever he pitched the ball up. 1977 June 33/3 He charged down the pitch to a leg-break which the bowler pitched wide. 2004 (Nexis) 25 June 32 He pitched the ball up and found bounce and some swing. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > play baseball [verb (transitive)] > actions of pitcher 1848 11 The ball must be pitched and not thrown for the bat. 1868 H. Chadwick 60 When he [sc. the pitcher] makes a motion to pitch and does not do so,..he makes a balk. 1890 W. Carleton 37 ‘An' will you pitch or catch?’ Says I, ‘I'll catch, if so desired.’ 1929 17 Aug. 22/1 Diamond slang crops out in his speech..as when he instructs his agents never to book him for two consecutive lectures. ‘I can't pitch two games in a row,’ he says. 1944 (Univ. Virginia) 30 Mar. 3 Hank Neighbors, who pitched two innings of college ball here last year, is the only semblance of an experienced pitcher on the squad. 2003 (Midwest ed.) 11 Oct. vi. 6/2 I don't even know if I knew how to pitch a four-seam fastball. I just picked up the ball and threw it. 1858 in P. Davies (1980) 126/2 And here, again, an iron-headed club must be used to ‘pitch’ or ‘loft’ the ball over the difficulty. 1890 H. S. C. Everard in H. G. Hutchinson et al. (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) xiv. 363 He would pitch a ball up to within a few feet of the hole half a dozen times in succession. 1938 28 Feb. 4/3 Lawrie pitched well up to the hole and dead on the pin. 1976 J. C. Jessop 72 As the greens in America are well soaked with water, it is comparatively easy to pitch on to the green. 2000 19 Sept. i. 40/5 Meanwhile Carrick were in light rough off the green in two, and pitched a right delicate lad to 15 feet. the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)] > reject > as useless or unneeded 1968 8 Dec. (Comic section) It looked like junk mail, so I pitched it out. 1981 27 May 13/1 You know that drawer full of pantyhose that I save?.. Well, I pitched them. 1987 J. Rule vii. 108 Patricia had taken such good care of his clothes that he had not had time..to become a disgrace, but Christine did suggest pitching a thing or two. 1994 14 Dec. 22/7 To pitch a diamond would allow declarer to play on hearts. society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > movement of vehicles > move or go along [verb (transitive)] > go round a corner society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > racing with vehicles > motor racing > race motors [verb (transitive)] > drive rapidly and recklessly 1980 4 Oct. b1/1 ‘You can do all your braking in a straight line,’ he said, as he pitched the car around. 1986 Aug.–Sept. 22/3 The bike steered too quickly, feeling as though, once pitched into a turn, it just wanted to carry on falling. 1999 (Nexis) 12 Dec. xii. 1/1 The Ferrari knows when you are pitching it into a hard corner and will stiffen the damping to reduce body roll. 14. society > travel > travel by water > action or motion of vessel > [verb (transitive)] > plunge (bow) downwards 1627 J. Smith ii. 4 If she haue not a full Bow, it will make her pitch her head much into the Sea. 1843 J. F. Cooper xiv. 162 At this time the ship had been pitching her spritsail-yard under water, and it blew a little hurricane. 1864 Feb. 372/2 Twice he was dipped in the ocean as the ship pitched her bows under in the sea-way. society > travel > travel by water > action or motion of vessel > [verb (intransitive)] > rise and fall a1687 W. Petty Treat. Naval Philos. i. iii, in T. Hale (1691) 127 What makes her pitch and scend too much. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter ii. v. 175 The Sloop..rolled and pitched so violently, that it was impossible for a boat to lay a long-side of her. 1769 W. Falconer at Riding When a ship..pitches violently into the sea, so as to strain her cables, masts, or hull, it is called riding hard, and the vessel is termed a bad roader. 1800 J. Charnock I. viii. 115 A galley of war..being much less liable to pitch in the swell of the sea than a short vessel, would [etc.]. 1840 R. H. Dana xxxv. 132 The ship works hard, groaning and creaking, and pitching into a heavy head-sea. 1900 J. Conrad i. 5 Broad ferry-boats pitching ponderously at anchor. 1922 ‘K. Mansfield’ Six Years After in (1966) 468 The little steamer pressed on, pitching gently, over the grey, unbroken, gently moving water. 1991 Nov. 43/2 The pilot..belly-hit the deck as the ship pitched and rolled. the mind > possession > relinquishing > casting or laying aside > [verb (transitive)] > by pitching 1728 E. Chambers (at cited word) When a Ship falls with her Head too much into the Sea, or beats against it so as to endanger her Top-Masts, they say, she will pitch her Masts by the board. 1811 25 27 Having pitched her bowsprit and foremast away. 1885 J. Runciman 17 Which threatened to pitch the masts out of her. 1840 J. W. Sweeny (sheet music) He rared and pitched but he couldn't make a jump. 1883 A. E. Sweet & J. A. Knox v. 68 The majority of Texas ponies buck, or pitch as it is sometimes termed. 1900 H. Garland 98 A horse that reared and leaped to fling its rider was said to ‘pitch’. 1949 9 Apr. 43/1 The sorrel didn't pitch when I first hit the saddle. 2000 (Nexis) 15 June 11 b ‘He was spinning left, backing up and pitching a little bit while dropping his inside shoulder,’ Moraes said about the hard-bucking bull. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > plunge > plunge forward 1850 W. M. Thackeray II. xxii. 219 When I begin to talk too much..when I begin to pitch, I authorise you..to put away the rum-bottle. 1852 H. B. Stowe I. vii. 89 Whistling to the lumbering Newfoundland, who came pitching tumultuously toward them. 1859 J. Neal iii. 34 Huge, heavy omnibuses, lumbering and pitching through the darkness. 1895 S. Crane xix. 181 The men, pitching forward insanely, had burst into cheerings, moblike and barbaric. 1925 W. Faulkner Let. Mar. in (1992) 192 It was funny when we went down to dinner, swaying and pitching. 1988 P. L. Fermor vi. 138 The car pitched about the ruts and potholes like a boat in a choppy sea. society > travel > air or space travel > specific movements or positions of aircraft > fly [verb (intransitive)] > rock or rotate round lateral axis 1874 59 If..the model pitches forward on its nose, it is only necessary to slide the aeroplane further forward on the rod. If it still pitches turn up the horizontal rudder slightly. 1903 7 53/2 The best angles were given by shapes which..would always pitch forward unless controlled by a large and well turned up tail. 1964 J. E. D. Williams vii. 104 When an aircraft yaws or pitches there is an immediate change in the aerodynamic forces. 1986 Aug. 346/1 The Vampire pitched up sharply with the collision..and then began to oscillate uncontrollably before the crew decided to abandon the aircraft. 2003 (Nexis) 14 Aug. b4 A plane..vibrated severely and the aircraft's nose pitched down rapidly while on approach to an airport in Brisbane, Australia. society > travel > air or space travel > specific movements or positions of aircraft > [verb (transitive)] > cause to pitch 1918 W. L. Cowley & H. Levy vii. 152 The pitching moment produced is about 123 lbs.-ft., enough to pitch the aeroplane through an angle of ½°. 1926 30 521 The examination would be comparatively easy if only the operation of the longitudinal control simply pitched the aeroplane, the lateral control banked and the rudder control yawed it. 1961 D. Myrus ii. 36/1 At about 50,000 feet the engines automatically flip slightly to one side, pitching the missile from straight up to a little north of due east. 1983 (Nexis) 13 Jan. a1 The tendency of the 737 to pitch up its nose in bad weather. 15. the mind > language > speech > speak, say, or utter [verb (transitive)] 1811 at Gamon What rum gamon the old file pitched to the flat. 1867 23 Mar. 222/2 (Farmer) If he had had the sense to..pitch them a tale, he might have got off. 1878 H. Wright 14 They suspected from his pitching such stories, he must surely be a rogue and vagabond. 1915 J. Buchan iii. 69 I pitched him a lovely yarn. 1997 20 June 94 It's fortunate for Harrington that he pitched this tale to the ever-credulous chronicler of the rich and powerful. the mind > emotion > love > courtship or wooing > court or engage in courtship [verb (intransitive)] 1903 IV. 526/1 Pitch up to, to make advances, to make love to. 1930 D. Runyon Lily of St. Pierre in 20 Dec. 32/4 I never think of Lily as anything but a little doll with her hair in braids, and certainly not a doll such as a guy will start pitching to. 1953 S. Bellow v. 80 I hugged and pitched on the porches and in the back-yards with girls. 1985 60 iii. 251 She distinguishes wolves,..from pimps.., from daddies.., all three of whom pitch but don't catch. the world > action or operation > continuing > continue doing or keep going in a course of action [verb (intransitive)] > with endurance or persistence 1929 3 Apr. 9/1 I don't care. You don't mean any harm and I go right on pitching, don't I? 1943 M. Hart i. vii. 72 This is a tough, lousy break. But..I'd love to see you stay in there, pitching. 1976 Dec. 17/1 At least he was in there pitching, risking his neck. 2000 P. H. Ray & S. R. Anderson iii. 95 They are in there pitching, trying to create change. 1943 25 Sept. 12/1 Louie..pitches kitchen gadgets. 1972 1 June 26/2 Like any good salesman, he knows that once he demonstrates that the basic program he is pitching really does some good, all the ancillary merchandising will take care of itself. 1990 June 32/2 For a $100 fee, anyone with an idea gets an entire page to pitch it. 1993 June 26/1 Coaches and athletic directors pitched him on the merits of their programmes. 2000 A. Sayle 22 The two of us put together a script for a TV sitcom pilot and pitched it to a producer at the BBC. 2004 R. Dew & P. Pape x. 82 When I wanted to pitch a potential source, that process included a personal interview with a deputy assistant director. society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [verb (intransitive)] > other types of money dealing 1980 8 Jan. 19/3 One adventurous agency hired a light aircraft and flew round the Manhattan skyscraper..trailing a neon sign to pitch for the account. 1986 11 Sept. 3/2 A corporate campaign for Dee seems certain, but no agencies have yet been asked to pitch. 2004 (Nexis) 28 June 52 It pitched for the News account which bills about $40 million. III. To slope, descend. 16. the world > space > relative position > inclination > incline or be oblique [verb (intransitive)] > slope the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > sedimentary formation > [verb (intransitive)] > slope the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > vein > [verb (intransitive)] > incline the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > features of stratum or vein > [verb (intransitive)] > slope down tr. Palladius (Duke Humfrey) (1896) i. 90 (MED) For vynys, lond to chese, eek most me yeme..Ne picche hit not to soore into the vale. 1719 (Royal Soc.) 30 969 It riseth to the North West, and pitcheth to the South East. 1771 J. S. Copley Let. in (Mass. Hist. Soc.) 137 I should have the Roof to pitch from under the Arkitraves of the Chamber Windows. 1859 3 538 The roof may pitch both ways, or shed at the ends. 1877 R. W. Raymond 162 The vein..increases in width with depth and pitches 36° east. 1897 F. C. Moore vii. 94 The floor shall pitch from building to the front of piazza ¼ inch to every foot of width. 1910 P. Lake & R. H. Rastall i. 20 A fold whose axis was inclined downwards towards the south-east would be said to pitch to the south-east. 1966 E. H. T. Whitten i. 26 Ripple marks are observed on this bedding plane; they pitch at 40° to the southeast (i.e., the angle between the strike and the ripples is 40°). 1984 (Nexis) 30 Sept. vi. 76/3 It seems as though the room is closing in as the ceiling pitches up about 13 feet. 2004 (Nexis) 24 Feb. 1 a The problem area is the center section, where the roof pitches down steeply. the world > space > relative position > inclination > incline or be oblique [verb (intransitive)] > slope > downwards > abruptly 1851 N. Kingsley 21 Jan. (1914) 168 We have come to where the bed rock pitches down suddenly. 1867 ‘T. Lackland’ i. 70 One of these [pastures]..sloping where it does not pitch, down to the rocky bed of the riotous stream. 1873 J. Miller vi. 72 Gorge on gorge, cañon intersecting cañon, pitching down towards the rapid Klamat. 1940 W. V. T. Clark v. 274 The ravine pitches down to the creek. 1976 C. Holland (1977) 24 They went to the end of the street, where the ground pitched off sheer to the desert below. 1997 (Nexis) 20 July c9 The side of the road pitched into a deep ravine. 1950 H. Cobb 228/2 This roofing is not recommended on surfaces pitched less that 2½″ per foot. 1954 F. L. Wright ii. 161 I have also sometimes pitched roofs from high on the sides to low in the center. 1983 J. S. Foster (rev. ed.) I. iii. 65/1 The top flanges..are often pitched at an angle. 1985 T. Kidder ii. i. 57 A proper Greek Revival roof should not be very steeply pitched. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > sink the world > life > the body > bodily shape or physique > slim shape or physique > slim [verb (intransitive)] > shrink 1751 E. Synge 16 July (1996) 326 She lets it pitch for a quarter of an hour... This is time enough for dross and dirt to sink to the bottom. 1794 T. Davis 36 The ewes shrink their milk, the lambs ‘pitch and get stunted’, and the best summer food will not recover them. 1794 T. Davis 37 The rule is to give it [sc. the meadow] a ‘thorough good soaking’ at first,..to make the land sink and pitch close together. 1850 11 ii. 679 When they [sc. sheep] are first put into turnips they lose ground, or pitch, as it is called, for two months in the autumn, and are slow in regaining it afterwards. 1903 W. F. Rose in (at cited word) My hands have pitched, sir, but my legs be terrible swollen—but they'll pitch maybe by and by. 2017 @purple_tealeaf 10 Dec. in twitter.com (O.E.D. Archive) It's been snowing all day in Bristol but none is pitching bc it rained before. IV. To fix the relative place, position, level, etc., of something. 18. society > armed hostility > armed encounter > contending in battle > contend in battle or give battle [verb (intransitive)] > join or meet in battle society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > [verb (transitive)] > draw up (troops) > in battle array a1513 H. Bradshaw (1521) ii. xvi. sig. p.viii The duke of Normandy..Pight a stronge batell. 1530 tr. Caesar xii. 14 Cesar had ordered hys army & pyght his felde in a conuenient place. 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil ii. sig. E.ijv Polites..through foes and wepons pight, Through galeryes along doth ronne. 1612 J. Smith 27 Hauing thus pitched the fields: from either part went a Messenger with..conditions, that whosoeuer were vanquished..their wiues and children should be prize. c1645 I. Tullie (1840) 37 The Enemie drew out some foot to peche against those in the ditch. 1655 T. Stanley I. i. 108 When to wage War, and when to pitch a Field. 1772 R. Warner tr. Plautus Twin Brothers i. iii, in B. Thornton et al. tr. Plautus III. 17 We mean to pitch a field with you today. 1852 N. Hawthorne xxix. 287 If Kossuth, for example, would pitch the battle-field of Hungarian rights within an easy ride of my abode. 1992 26 Feb. 37/3 The main problem is that so far the central battle seems unevenly pitched. society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > compete with [verb (transitive)] > set in competition 1801 ‘Gabrielli’ II. 48 My tutor offered to pitch me against the clerk for reading, and against a neighbouring farmer's son for casting accounts. 1889 6 Aug. 5/7 We are..weak in comparison with the great fleets against which we shall be pitched when the manœuvres commence. 1988 10 July 61/6 One great series of races was the Schneider Trophy Contest..which pitched sea planes against each other. 2004 17 Mar. (Review section) 12/6 A sweeter Mr Darling, pitched against dark machinations that were the undoing of him. †19. the mind > will > decision > resolve or decide upon [verb (transitive)] ?1567 M. Parker xcvi. 272 Tel ye (I say) the Gentiles all This Lord his raigne hath pight. 1579 W. Wilkinson f. 38v If they be such as..by a price pitcht they are deliuered out for. 1592 T. Kyd ii. sig. Dv Betweene vs theres a price already pitcht. 1596 W. Warner (rev. ed.) ix. xlvi. 218 Pluto..and all th'infernall States, Did pytch a Session, to correct Remisnes in debates. 1649 in E. Nicholas (1886) I. 166 The King now hath pitcht a new day for his repaire to Antwerp. the mind > will > decision > resolve or decide [verb (intransitive)] 1666 A. Marvell Let. 6 Nov. in (1971) II. 44 Privy seals, seald Paper,..haue been all more or lesse disputed..but where we shall pitch I am not yet wise enough to tell you. 1668 A. Marvell Let. 7 Mar. in (1971) II. 68 We are yet very irresolute what way to pitch. 1868 J. Billings lxix. 228 I hav seen men as full ov indecision as an old barn—alwus reddy, but didn't know exactly which way to pitch. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > play a card [verb (transitive)] > actions or tactics 1890 J. D. Champlin & A. E. Bostwick 7/2 Pedro Sancho or Sancho Pedro, a kind of Auction Pitch in which the dealer sells the privilege of making or pitching the trump. 1890 Pitch,..In certain card games, to lead one of (a certain suit), thereby selecting it as trump. the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > judge, determine [verb (transitive)] > conclude the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > assure, make certain [verb (transitive)] > make firm, establish 1610 A. Willet 294 Some pitch their beginning at Cyrus. 1640 Bp. J. Hall ii. 61 First, they pitch their conclusion, and then, hunt about for premises to make it good. a1680 S. Charnock (1682) 13 Who can pitch a time and person that originated this notion? a1687 W. Petty 26 I had..pitch'd the medium of Heads in all the Families of England to be 6⅓. 21. society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > pricing > attach a price to [verb (transitive)] > set or fix price (of) the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > adaptation or adjustment > adapt or adjust [verb (transitive)] > bring into conformity > adjust to a standard or purpose 1624 J. Smith v. 199 They pitched their commodities at what rate they pleased. 1633 G. Herbert 12 Pitch thy behaviour low, thy projects high. 1823 L. Hunt (1923) 123 And women came with their impetuous lords, To pitch the talk and humanize the boards. 1874 F. C. Burnand xvi. 142 His conversation was pitched in a minor key. 1893 R. S. Ball 81 Our second assumption regarding the mass of the Earth was pitched too low. 1933 J. J. Bronowski in 19 Apr. 358/1 German post-war patriotism was pitched upon that shrill and querulous note which had only occasionally been heard there before the war. 1933 H. D. Berman ii. 10 If the jobber..pitches the price rather high. 1994 7 Jan. 20 The Wisse's arguments are emotively pitched to appeal to the very real human needs of its female audience. society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > set pitch [verb (transitive)] 1671 T. Shadwell ii. 27 Madam, I want a Theorbo to pitch my voice. 1672 J. Playford (ed. 6) i. 54 That the Professor..so pitch his Tune, as to sing in his full and natural voice. 1744–91 J. Wesley (1872) VIII. 319 Choose a person or two in each place to pitch the tune for you. 1778 J. Crompton vii. p. xcvii Verses, said to be spoken extempore, by an old practitioner in psalmody to a clerk, who had pitched his tune so much too high, that he could not join him. 1842 Ld. Tennyson 52 ‘Parson’ said I ‘you pitch the pipe too low’. 1887 C. Hazard vi. 123 His voice was well pitched and resonant, easily filling large spaces. 1915 W. Cather i. ix. 67 What do you pitch your voice so high for? 1999 R. W. Gutman xxv. 482 (note) The viola's soloist's part is written and played a half tone lower than it sounds, the soloist, in compensation, having pitched the instrument a semi-tone higher than the norm. the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (intransitive)] > other the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > speak or do with exaggeration [phrase] 1823 R. B. Peake i. ii. 11 You pitch it strong, my fine fellow! 1824 T. Hook 1st Ser. II. 34 That's pitching it strong, howsumever,..I takes that to be gammon, now. 1886 R. L. Stevenson 7 And all the time, as we were pitching it in red hot, we were keeping the women off him as best we could. 1903 P. G. Wodehouse 213 Try him, anyhow. Pitch it fairly warm... Only cat you ever loved, and that sort of thing. 1969 3 July 37/1 Dr Steven Rose..was not pitching it too high when he said that the dangers of uncontrolled technology were as great as those of nuclear warfare. 2004 (Nexis) 9 Jan. 29 [The] Conservative front-bench spokesman..likened supermarkets squeezing their suppliers to Stalin's purge of several million peasants, pitching it strong even for a Tory politician. the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > choose [verb (transitive)] 1628 W. Prynne 62 I shall onely pitch vpon these ensuing passages. 1674 W. Allen 86 The way and method which God pitcht upon. a1687 W. Petty 23 I pitch upon 88 thousand to be the number of Housing Anno 1686. 1710 T. Hearne (1889) III. 86 The Lecturer to be pitch'd upon every 3d year by ye Warden & five Seniors. 1791 ‘G. Gambado’ iv. 19 I pitched upon one that I thought would suit me. 1836 W. Irving I. 169 The place which he pitched upon for his trading post. 1858 J. H. Newman in Jan. 35 If one holy place was desecrated, the monks pitched upon another. 1904 J. Conrad iii. ix. 375 The man he pitched upon to negotiate with Sotillo was a Notary Public. 1966 E. Amadi xiv. 120 She should not pitch on our son. She is too old for him. 2001 (Nexis) 8 Feb. Why pitch upon direct tax alone for mobilisation of resources? V. Miscellaneous technical uses. the world > space > relative position > fact or condition of being transverse > intersection > intersect [verb (transitive)] > interlock or interdigitate society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > wheel > furnish with wheel(s) [verb (transitive)] > engage or cause to engage a1668 W. Davenant Play-house to be Let in (1673) 91 But his fingers are pitcht together. 1792 (1856) 5 The pinion P pitches into and turns the wheel R. the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > brewing > [verb (transitive)] > add yeast to 1875 R. Hunt & F. W. Rudler (ed. 7) I. 316 The heat is at this time generally 75°, if it was pitched at 65°; for the heat and the attenuation go hand in hand. 1911 XXV. 699/1 The wort..after cooling to the proper point..is pitched with yeast. 1956 21 10 It [sc. the wort] is then run into the fermenting vessel, into which yeast is ‘pitched’ or inoculated. 1994 1 July 3 (advt.) The yeast is then ‘pitched’ (added) at the Feathers where the beer is fermented, conditioned, filtered and carbonated. Phrasessociety > trade and finance > payment > pay [verb (intransitive)] > pay ready money c1450 (c1405) (BL Add. 41666) (1936) 1598 (MED) Shuld þay picche and paye at eche pleynte-is ende..Thay wolde cesse sum tyme for sheding of þaire siluer. a1500 Piers of Fulham (James) in W. C. Hazlitt (1866) II. 9 (MED) Yt ys full hard bothe to pyche and paye: An empty purs may evyll accomptes yelde. 1559 W. Baldwin et al. Warwick xiv I vsed playnnes, euer pitch and pay. 1573 T. Tusser Points Huswifrie (new ed.) f. 29v, in (new ed.) At Norwich... A Citie trim: Where straungers well, may seeme to dwel, That pytch & pay, or kepe their day. 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. iii. 46 Trust none: The word is pitch and pay. 1608 H. Clapham 102 But you your promise once did breake. Giue me your hand, that you will pitch and pay. 1849 25 July 6/2 They [sc. refugees from Germany] describe Swiss hospitality as very expensive. ‘The word is pitch and pay.’ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > pitch and toss, etc. > [noun] 1688 R. Holme (1905) iii. xvi. 82/1 Pich and Hussle. 1749 W. Ellis 199 Others..go shooting of Birds, or play at Bandy-wicket, Pitch and Chuck, Hooper's Hide. 1779 24 They would be much better employ'd, and much less immorally, than in Pellet or Cricket matches, or in a Game at Pitch-halfpenny. 1841 G. Wickham x Shoot in the ring, odd and even, and pitch in the hole, are the leading games. 1861 H. Mayhew (new ed.) III. 134/2 I was watching a lot of boys playing at pitch-button. 1892 P. H. Emerson 339 Let's have a game of pitch-halfpenny. 1901 22 Jan. 9/1 The young ladies for the most part seemed to be in the ‘pitch-in-the-tub’ branch of the profession. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > play cricket [verb (intransitive)] > set up wicket 1732 3 July The Wickets are to be pitch'd at One o'Clock. 1735 12 July The Stumps were immediately pitch'd. 1776 19 July The wickets were pitched at eleven o'clock on Monday, and the game was not decided till Wednesday afternoon. 1803 5 The Party which goes from home shall have..the pitching of the wickets, which shall be pitched within thirty yards of a centre fixed by the adversaries. 1866 327 The wickets had better be pitched without loss of time. 1931 15 June 5/4 The umpires had no option but to pitch stumps again, and the two not-out batsmen marched back to the wickets. 1988 R. Basu vii. 69 The wickets were pitched again, the stakes put back. 1998 (Nexis) 22 May 60 Once the stumps are pitched I know that both teams will be going all out for victory. the mind > emotion > love > courtship or wooing > court or engage in courtship [verb (intransitive)] the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > flatter [verb (intransitive)] 1935 Feb. 60/3 After a while Uncle Ned came back looking positively exalted, so I guessed he and May had been pitching some more woo. 1948 S. J. Perelman vii. 85 I naturally assumed a fer-de-lance was pitching woo at me. 1973 15 June 5/5 He's still a master at pitching the woo—on the mound, in the pressroom or elsewhere. 1994 (Nexis) 13 Feb. 20 Tomorrow's newspaper classified columns will be full of Itchy Woos pitching woo to their Mini-Poohs. 1950 22 June 1/6 She pitched a fit one day when my hands were chapped and I let the dishes go. 1970 L. Meriwether (1986) 133 I knew she wasn't about to pitch no fit. 1992 C. McCarthy (1993) i. 72 Rawlins will pitch a pure hissy when he sees you. 2002 Sept. 28/1 My..filly pitches a fit when I try to ride her separately from her pasturemate. Phrasal verbs PV1. With adverbs in specialized senses. to pitch in the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > resolutely or energetically the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > types of help > [verb (intransitive)] > assist conjointly 1835 C. Dickens Seven Dials in 27 Sept. 1/1 She accordingly complies with the urgent request of the by-standers to ‘pitch in’, with considerable alacrity. 1863 J. Dugan vii. 89 The most of us sit on our heels, or otherwise, with our dishes and food upon the ground, and then pitch in. 1896 Apr. 766/2 They subsequently did pitch in, however, and fought well. 1932 P. G. Wodehouse 11 Then, with the coffee and old brandy at your side.., pitch in. 1973 J. Gardner iii. i. 88 Neighbors from here to Athensville and New Carthage had pitched in and helped him lay up the cinder-block house behind the diner. 1997 Aug. 81/1 The doctors pitched in with their own money and funded the school. 1971 W. Hillen iv. 36 A favorite stopping-place for..swans, cranes, and geese. They pitch in to feed and rest. 1993 7 Nov. d3/3 Check the wind and place the opening so the ducks pitch in, into the wind. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > dismissal of batsman > put out [verb (transitive)] > manner of dismissal 1858 18 July 7/6 Caffyn was pitched out—the ball never touching the ground until after it had disturbed the stumps. 1876 (ed. 13) 115 He was stated to have been ‘brilliantly pitched out’ by Mr. Strachan from mid-off. 1899 19 June 4/2 Warner signaled Meekin to pitch out. The ball was thrown high... Warner snapped the ball down to Gleason, but Mertes dived back and saved himself. 1952 25 July 18/2 Bossidy pitched out, and Spadafora caught Skypeck sliding. 1984 R. Angell in 12 Mar. 76/3 I knew they were going to run! Why didn't I pitch out? 2003 (Nexis) 26 Oct. i. 1 Wary of Soriano's speed at first base, Beckett threw over twice and pitched out once. colloquial. 1918 J. Galsworthy iii. 323 I don't want her to pitch up against that. 1960 N. Jabavu x. 87 Had they been lesser men..they would only have pitched up at some sheltered spot, taken root, settled down and become mere cultivators. 1984 K. Amis i. 20 Half a minute later Lindsey Lucas pitched up in search of a seat and a gin and tonic. 2000 Nov. 34/1 The first to pitch up to work in Prada's top-stitched 40s platforms. PV2. With prepositions in specialized senses. to pitch for —— Business. society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (intransitive)] > specific operations society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > spend or incur expense [verb (intransitive)] > cost > estimate cost 1983 23 Sept. 18/3 Market men expect the sale to go well, with most observers pitching for a striking price of 430p. 1985 A. Blond iii. 51 He is pitching for a turnover of £6 million. 1988 8 Jan. 8/2 James Capel suggests between £20m and £21m (£14.4m) with earnings of 34p, while Kleinwort Grieveson pitches for £19.5m. colloquial. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > attack with hostile words or measures the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > carry on vigorously [verb (transitive)] > apply oneself to vigorously the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (transitive)] > severely 1823 ‘J. Bee’ 137 Pitch it into him, strike him bodily without notice. 1829 P. Egan New Ser. II. 267 Dick..pitched in to Warren, who was obliged to fight for his safety. 1836 C. Dickens 1st Ser. I. 51 I wished..that the people would only blow me up, or pitch into me—that I wouldn't have minded. 1852 10 July 25/2 I saw that gourmand Guttler pitching contentedly into a kangaroo chop. 1863 E. A. Freeman in W. R. W. Stephens (1895) I. v. 287 I shall have to pitch into him a great deal more in my second volume. 1906 G. B. Shaw 18 Nov. (1972) II. 661 A vaccine opsinises your disease germs..so that the white blood corpuscles..pitch into them with an appetite. 1926 J. Devanny xxi. 260 A man ought to pitch into you with his fists and knock hell out of you! 1980 B. Mason 121 Old man Finucane..knocked his old woman about and pitched into his sons. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  n.1eOE n.2a1382 v.1eOEv.2a1275 |
