Pestle

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: pes=tle

CIDE DICTIONARY

Pestle, n. [OE. pestel, OF. pestel, LL. pestellum, L. pistillum, pistillus, a pounder, pestle, fr. pisere, pinsere, to pound, crush, akin to Gr. , Skr. pish. Cf. Pistil.].

•  An implement for pounding and breaking or braying substances in a mortar; as, to grind with a mortar and pestle.  [1913 Webster]
•  A constable's or bailiff's staff; -- so called from its shape.  Chapman.  [1913 Webster]
•  The leg and leg bone of an animal, especially of a pig; as, a pestle of pork.  [1913 Webster]

Pestle, v. t. & i. 

 To pound, pulverize, bray, or mix with a pestle, or as with a pestle; to use a pestle.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Pestle, n. & v.
--n.
1 a club-shaped instrument for pounding substances in a mortar.
2 an appliance for pounding etc.
--v.
1 tr. pound with a pestle or in a similar manner.
2 intr. use a pestle.

Etymology

ME f. OF pestel f. L pistillum f. pinsare pist- to pound

THESAURUS

Pestle

abrade, atomize, beat, bray, brecciate, cheese grater, comminute, comminutor, contriturate, crumb, crumble, crush, crusher, disintegrate, flour, fragment, grain, granulate, granulator, granulize, grate, grater, grind, grind to powder, grinder, kominuter, levigate, levigator, mash, masher, mill, millstone, mortar and pestle, nutmeg grater, pound, powder, pulverize, pulverizer, quern, quernstone, reduce to powder, rock crusher, roller, scrunch, shard, shred, shredder, smash, squash, steamroller, triturate, triturator