# pier
## English
### Etymology

From Middle English pere (“bridge pillar”), from Medieval Latin pera, from Old Northern French pire (“breakwater”), from Vulgar Latin *petricus, from Latin petra, from Ancient Greek πέτρα (pétra, “stone”).

### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /pɪə(ɹ)/
* (General American) enPR: pîr, IPA: /pɪɹ/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)
* Homophone: peer

### Noun

pier (plural piers)
* A raised platform built from the shore out over water, supported on piles; used to secure, or provide access to shipping; a jetty.
    Your boat is docked at the pier.
* A similar structure, especially at a seaside resort, used to provide entertainment.
    There is a gaming arcade on the pier.
** 2023 March 22, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Island Line to reopen to Ryde Pier in June... possibly”, in RAIL, number 979, page 24:Ryde Pier's claim to fame is being the world's oldest seaside pleasure pier, with construction starting in 1813.
* A structure supporting the junction between two spans of a bridge.
** 1961 January, “Talking of Trains: The Severn Bridge disaster”, in Trains Illustrated, page 5:The force of the explosion demolished one pair of piers and two spans of the bridge crashed down into the river on top of the barges.
* (architecture) A rectangular pillar, or similar structure, that supports an arch, wall or roof, or the hinges of a gate.
    Coordinate term: pile

#### Derived terms

* abutment pier
* Brighton pier
* chain pier
* end-of-pier
* end-of-the-pier
* finger pier
* pier glass
* pierless
* pierlike
* pier table
* rocking pier
* take a long walk off a short pier
* take a long walk on a short pier
* you don't fish off the company pier

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

### See also

* jetty
* mole
* wharf

### Anagrams

* Peri, peri, peri-, prie, ripe

## Dutch
### Pronunciation

* Rhymes: -ir
* Audio:(file)

### Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch pier, probably from the name Pierre.

#### Noun

pier m (plural pieren, diminutive piertje n)
* (zoology) a worm, earthworm (in Flanders)

### Etymology 2

Borrowed from English pier.

#### Noun

pier m (plural pieren, diminutive piertje n)
* (architecture) a pier, jetty

##### Derived terms

* wandelpier

##### Descendants

* → Papiamentu: pir

##### See also

* aanlegsteiger
* golfbreker
* hoofd
* steiger

### Etymology 3

Unknown; Flanders only

#### Alternative forms

* piere (obsolete)

#### Noun

pier m (plural pieren, diminutive piertje n)
* (archaic) a physical trap
* (archaic) a figurative trap, ambush
* (archaic) a place one is trapped in:
** a prison
** a rabbit den

##### Derived terms

* pieren
* (trap types) steenpier(e), vliegepier(e)
* pierkoorde

#### Verb

pier
* inflection of pieren:
** first-person singular present indicative
** (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
** imperative

### References

* M. J. Koenen & J. Endepols, Verklarend Handwoordenboek der Nederlandse Taal (tevens Vreemde-woordentolk), Groningen, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969 (26th edition) [Dutch dictionary in Dutch]

### Anagrams

* prei
* riep

## Latin
### Verb

pier
* first-person singular present passive subjunctive of piō

## Middle English
### Noun

pier
* Alternative form of pere (“peer”)

### Adjective

pier
* Alternative form of pere (“equal”)

## Romanian
### Verb

pier
* first-person singular present indicative/subjunctive of pieri

## Romansch
### Alternative forms

* biera (Rumantsch Grischun, Sursilvan, Sutsilvan, Surmiran, Puter, Vallader)

### Noun

pier f (plural piers)
* (Sutsilvan) beer, ale

#### Synonyms

* gervosa

## Slovak
### Pronunciation

* IPA: [pi̯er]

### Noun

pier
* genitive plural of pero
* genitive plural of pera