Main Entry:

¹pes·tle

Pronunciation:

\ˈpe-səl, ˈpes-t^əl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English pestel, from Anglo-French, from Latin pistillum, from pinsere to pound, crush; akin to Greek ptissein to crush, Sanskrit pinaṣṭi he pounds

Date:

14th century

1 : a usually club-shaped implement for pounding or grinding substances in a mortar — see mortar illustration 2 : any of various devices for pounding, stamping, or pressing

[pestle illustration]