French word

poix

Pronunciation

IPA/pwa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpitch

Example

Les marins enduisent les cordes de poix.

The sailors coat the ropes with pitch.

Illustration for poix (pitch)

More examples

J'ai de la poix sur les mains.

I have pitch on my hands.

Core concept

A black, sticky coating brushed onto rope and wood to keep water out.

Similar words

résine: A sticky substance secreted by trees, used for furniture repairs and bonding.
goudron: A black, sticky substance made by heating coal or wood, used as a waterproof coating.

Definition in French

Substance noire et visqueuse utilisée pour imperméabiliser et protéger, notamment les cordages et les éléments en bois.

Word origin

French poix comes from Latin pix, genitive picis, through medieval French forms that developed into the modern word.

Usage tips

  • Poix is feminine, so its usual article is la, and it is pronounced like pois and poids, both /pwa/.

Word lists with this word