What does pied mean?
Pied is a descriptive adjective for an animal, bird, or object marked with conspicuous patches of more than one colour. Its most characteristic application is to black-and-white coat markings, although the word can refer to any sharply contrasting, multicoloured pattern. The best-known example is the pied kingfisher, whose black-and-white plumage gives the bird both its name and its striking appearance. In everyday English, pied is less common than piebald or simply multicoloured, and it often has a slightly literary or descriptive quality. The word is useful because it captures not merely the presence of colour but the patchwork effect of separate areas of colour. Although it sounds like paid, pied belongs to a different lexical family: it comes through French from Latin ped-, the root behind forms such as biped, quadruped, and centipede.
adjectiveHaving patches or markings of two or more distinct colours, especially black and white; piebald.
- Having patches or markings of two or more distinct colours, especially black and white.
"A pied kingfisher flashed above the reeds, its black-and-white plumage sharply outlined against the sky."
"A pied kingfisher flashed above the reeds, its black-and-white plumage sharply outlined against the sky."
"The old horse was pied, with broad black patches across its white flank."
French pied still means “foot”; English pied went colourfully off-script.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pied come from?
The adjective entered English in the late 16th century from French pied, literally “foot.” Its established colour sense is traditionally associated with the contrasting colours of an animal’s feet. The word ultimately traces to Latin ped-, the same root found in English forms such as biped, quadruped, and centipede.
How pied is actually used
Relatively uncommon in everyday modern English. It is especially used of animals and birds with conspicuously contrasting markings and often has a literary or descriptive quality.
Easily confused with pied
Paid is the past tense of pay, whereas pied describes something with sharply contrasting patches of colour.