Etymology 1

Noun

1. A small portion of a drug or drugs to be taken orally, usually of roughly cylindrical shape, often coated to prolong dissolution or ease swallowing.
   • 1864, Benjamin Ellis, The Medical Formulary http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC14843090&id=pHoMvHRmrlIC&pg=PA170&lpg=PA170&dq=%22take+two+pills%22&as_brr=1

     Take two pills every hour in the apyrexia of intermittent fever, until eight are taken.

2. the pill: A combination of estrogen and progestin in pill form, which functions as a contraceptive.
   • 1986, Jurriaan Plesman, Getting Off the Hook: Treatment of Drug Addiction and Social Disorders Through Body and Mind http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1862525919&id=cIbpj59s-KAC&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=%22on+the+pill%22&as_brr=1&sig=z-8oEUpPPJD-kIIWP8AUxG4Obic

     Many specialists are requesting that this vitamin be included in all contraceptive pills, as women on the pill have a tendency to be depressed.

3. A comical or entertaining person.
4. A contemptible, annoying, or unpleasant person.
   • 2000, Susan Isaacs, Shining Through http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0061030155&id=6_1FJWFEYGoC&pg=PA172&lpg=PA172&dq=%22a+real+pill%22&sig=RCUR5O3MhNXeq8rMOnx9-LR5Mfo

     Instead, I saw a woman in her mid-fifties, who was a real pill; while all the others had managed a decent “So pleased,” or even a plain “Hello,” Ginger just inclined her head, as if she was doing a Queen Mary imitation.

5. A small piece of any substance, for example a ball of fibres formed on the surface of a textile by rubbing.
   • 1999, Wally Lamb, I Know This Much Is True http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0060987561&id=LOYeA9GmrEwC&pg=PA201&lpg=PA201&dq=%22sweater+pills%22&sig=U11GOkTpfHlqyGyIdk7ZNZ0GNuI

     One sleeve, threadbare and loaded with what my mother called “sweater pills,” hung halfway to the floor.

6. A baseball.
   • 2002, John Klima, Pitched Battle: 35 of Baseball's Greatest Duels from the Mound http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0786412038&id=G126RsLD3MsC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=%22threw+the+pill%22&sig=NmyoxWN_bP5AHc9imVPMTxY7lvw

     Mr. Fisher contributed to the Sox effort when he threw the pill past second baseman Rath after Felsch hit him a comebacker.

7. A small inlet or creek of a tidal river, especially one with a landing stage or wharf.

Verb

1. Of a woven fabric surface, to form small matted balls of fiber.
   • 1997, Jo Sharp, Knitted Sweater Style: Inspirations in Color http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1561581895&id=l5h-cGU5HUYC&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=sweater+pilling&sig=6gfLWBL1QHVQZmbSYhJ4oipm8Kc

     During processing, inferior short fibers (which can cause pilling and itching) are removed to enhance the natural softness of the yarn and to improve its wash-and-wear performance.

2. To form into the shape of a pill.

   Pilling is a skill rarely used by modern pharmacists.

3. To medicate with pills.

   She pills herself with all sorts of herbal medicines.

Verb

1. To peel; to remove the outer layer of hair, skin, or bark.
2. To pillage; to despoil or impoverish.

Related terms

• morning-after pill
• on the pill
• pill popper
• pop pills
• tablet