pistou

noun

pis·​tou
pēsˈtü
plural -s
: a vegetable soup served with a puree of garlic, herbs, oil, and cheese and often tomatoes

Word History

Etymology

French, crushed basil, pesto, from Provençal, from pista to crush, from Old Provençal pistar, from Late Latin pistare

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pistou was in 1967

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near pistou

Cite this Entry

“Pistou.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistou. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!