Etymograph

English

pourpoint

Pourpoint comes from Anglo-Norman purpoint, from Latin punctum ‘pierced’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pewǵ- ‘prick, punch’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pewǵ-1‘prick, punch’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*pungō2‘to prick, sting’reconstructed
  3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpungō3‘to prick, puncture’
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpunctum4‘pierced’
  5. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEperpunctum4
  6. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400purpoint4
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500purpoynt4
  8. Englishtodaypourpoint4

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, Proto-Italic *pungō
  2. 2 Wiktionary, Latin pungo
  3. 3 Wiktionary, Latin punctum
  4. 4 Wiktionary, English pourpoint

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pewǵ-Wiktionary, Proto-Italic *pungō‘prick, punch’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*pungōWiktionary, Latin pungo‘to prick, sting’reconstructed
  3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpungōWiktionary, Latin punctum‘to prick, puncture’
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpunctumWiktionary, English pourpoint‘pierced’
  5. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEperpunctumWiktionary, English pourpoint
  6. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400purpointWiktionary, English pourpoint
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500purpoyntWiktionary, English pourpoint
  8. EnglishtodaypourpointWiktionary, English pourpoint

The story

The modern spelling is influenced by French pourpoint.

Full etymology on Wiktionary

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *pewǵ- ‘prick, punch’

fuck, fist, pivot, repugnant, pygmy, impugn, pugnacious, 39 more

through Proto-Italic *pungō ‘to prick, sting’

puncheon, 19 more

through Latin pungō ‘to prick, puncture’

punch, puncture, poignant, pungent, punctuate, pointe, compunction, pugilist, 19 more

through Latin punctum ‘pierced’

punto, 12 more

Today it means

noun A quilted military doublet or gambeson worn in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “pourpoint”; the older steps come from the Wiktionary entries for Proto-Italic *pungō, Latin pungo, Latin punctum. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pewǵ- / pourpoint

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