Meaning
A part of a larger whole, usually in such a form that it is able to be separated from other parts.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From Middle English pece, peece, peice, from Old French piece, from Late Latin pecia, petia (“broken piece, fragment; parcel of land”), of uncertain origin. Possibly ultimately from Gaulish *pettyā, from Proto-Celtic *kʷezdis (“piece, portion, quota”). Compare Welsh peth (“thing, stuff, junk”), Breton pez (“thing”), Irish cuid (“part, portion”). Compare French pièce, Portuguese peça, Spanish pieza, Italian pezza, Italian pezzo. Displaced native Middle English sticche, stucche (“piece, fragment”) from Old English styċċe (“piece, portion”), whence also English styca.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 15 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-09-07PCDEHIT
- 2026-07-18CAEILPT
- 2026-07-01ECDHIPU
- 2026-03-12CDEILNP
- 2026-02-27PABCEIL
- 2025-11-27PCTNEDI
- 2025-02-28PNCKIDE
- 2025-02-23IPANLCE
- 2024-10-17PTAIHEC
- 2024-06-24CDPUHEI
- 2024-03-16IAHDCPE
- 2023-11-23CAEINPT
+3 earlier appearances in the archive.