pierce

Meanings

1. To puncture; to break through.
2. To create a hole in the skin for the purpose of inserting jewelry.
3. to break or interrupt abruptly
4. To get to the heart or crux of (a matter).
5. To penetrate; to affect deeply.

1. A pierced earring.

1. A male given name from Ancient Greek, medieval variant of Piers. Modern usage may also derive from the surname.
2. A surname originating as a patronymic.
3. A number of places in the United States:
4. A town in Weld County, Colorado.
5. A minor city in Clearwater County, Idaho.
6. An unincorporated community in Wilton Township, Will County, Illinois.
7. An unincorporated community in Green County, Kentucky.
8. A city, the county seat of Pierce County, Nebraska.
9. An unincorporated community in Wharton County, Texas.
10. An unincorporated community and coal town in Tucker County, West Virginia.
11. A town in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.
12. A number of townships, listed under Pierce Township.

Etymology

From Middle English perce, from conjugated forms of Old French percier such as (jeo) pierce (“I pierce”), probably from Vulgar Latin *pertūsiō, from Latin pertūsus, past participle of pertundō (“thrust or bore through”), from per- (“through”) + tundō (“beat, pound”). Displaced native Old English þȳrlian (literally “to hole”).