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paint·er¹

(pāntər)

One who paints, either as an artist or worker.

pain·ter²

(pāntər)

A rope attached to the bow of a boat, used for tying up, as when docking or towing.

[Middle English peintour, probably from Old French pentoir, attested in the meaning "place where one hangs clothes to dry" (compare Middle French pendoir, keyring, something used to suspend an animal for butchering), from pendre, to hang, from Vulgar Latin *pendere, from Latin pendēre; see (s)pen- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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painter²

pain·ter³

(pāntər)

n.
Chiefly Upper Southern US

See cougar.

[Alteration of PANTHER.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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