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pith

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Pith is soft and spongy material in plant stems and the core of animal bones, or the white tissue lining the rind of an orange, lemon or other citrus fruit.

(noun)

An example of pith is the spongy material found inside plant stems.

See pith in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the soft, spongy tissue in the center of certain plant stems
the soft core of various other things, as of a bone or feather
the spongy, fibrous tissue lining the rind and surrounding the sections of an orange, grapefruit, etc.
the essential part; substance; gist
importance: now usually in
Archaic strength; vigor; force

Origin: ME pithe < OE pitha, akin to MDu pitte, pit of a fruit, kernel, pith of a tree

transitive verb

to remove the pith from (a plant stem)
to pierce or sever the spinal cord of (an animal) in order to kill it or make it insensible for experimental purposes

See pith in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Botany The soft, spongelike, central cylinder of the stems of most flowering plants, composed mainly of parenchyma.
Zoology The soft inner substance of a feather or hair.
The essential or central part; the heart or essence. See Synonyms at substance.
Strength; vigor; mettle.
Significance; importance.
Archaic Spinal cord or bone marrow.

transitive verb pithed, pith·ing, piths

To remove the pith from (a plant stem).
To sever or destroy the spinal cord of, usually by inserting a needle into the vertebral canal.
To kill (cattle) by cutting the spinal cord.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English pitha

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