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Marrow vs Pith - What's the difference?

marrow | pith | Synonyms |

Pith is a synonym of marrow.



As nouns the difference between marrow and pith

is that marrow is the substance inside bones which produces blood cells while pith is the soft, spongy substance in the center of the stems of many plants and trees.

As a verb pith is

to extract the pith from (a plant stem or tree).

marrow

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) mary, marow, marowe, , Icelandic (m), and also Russian ("brain").

Noun

(en noun)
  • (lb) The substance inside bones which produces blood cells.
  • *
  • *:Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.
  • (lb) A kind of vegetable like a large courgette/zucchini or squash.
  • *1847 , Sir (Robert Hermann Schomburgk), "Steam-Boat Voyage to Barbados", Bentley's Miscellany , Vol XXII, London: Richard Bentley, p.37:
  • *:The finest European vegetables, cabbages, cauliflowers, potatoes, vegetable marrow , were lying in the market-hall, awaiting purchasers.
  • The essence; the best part.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:It takes from our achievements/ The pith and marrow of our attribute.
  • *(Thomas Tusser) (1524-1580)
  • *:Chopping and changing I cannot commend, / With thief or his marrow , for fear of ill end.
    • Derived terms
    * bone marrow * marrowbone
    Related terms
    * courgette * cucumber * gherkin * pickle * squash * zucchini

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) margr.

    Alternative forms

    * marra

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Geordie, informal) A friend, pal, buddy, mate.
    • Cheers marrow !
  • (Scotland) One of a pair; a match; a companion; an intimate associate.

    • References

    * * *

    pith

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • The soft, spongy substance in the center of the stems of many plants and trees.
  • The spongy interior substance of a feather.
  • The spinal cord; the marrow.
  • (figuratively) The essential or vital part.
    • The pith of my idea is truth.
  • * Shakespeare
    • enterprises of great pith and moment

    Synonyms

    * (essential or necessary part) core, essence, general tenor, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, kernel, marrow, meat, nitty-gritty, nub, quintessence, soul, spirit, stuff, substance

    Related terms

    * pith helmet * pithy * pith and substance

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To extract the pith from (a plant stem or tree).
  • To kill (especially cattle or laboratory animals) by cutting or piercing the spinal cord.