[pɪl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a small round mass of solid medicine for swallowing whole
(e.g: an overdose of sleeping pills)

- a tedious or unpleasant person

- (in some sports) a humorous term for a ball


Phrases:
- a bitter pill to swallow
- sweeten the pill

Origin:
late Middle English: ultimately from Latin pilula ‘little ball’, diminutive of pila; compare with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German pille

[pɪl], (Verb)

Definitions:
- (of knitted fabric) form small balls of fluff on its surface
(e.g: synthetics can pill but otherwise wear fairly well)


Phrases:

Origin:
1950s: from the noun pill denoting a small ball of fluff, extended sense of pill