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Origin and history of punctilious

punctilious(adj.)

"very nice or precise in behavior, exact in the observance of rules or forms prescribed by law or custom," 1630s, probably from Italian puntiglioso, from puntiglio "fine point," from Latin punctum "prick" (from nasalized form of PIE root *peuk- "to prick"). Related: Punctiliously; punctiliousness.

also from 1630s

Entries linking to punctilious

*peuk-

also *peug-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to prick."

It might form all or part of: appoint; appointment; bung; compunction; contrapuntal; expugn; expunge; impugn; interpunction; oppugn; pink; poignant; point; pointe; pointillism; poniard; pounce; pugilism; pugilist; pugnacious; pugnacity; punch (n.1) "pointed tool for making holes or embossing;" punch (n.3) "a quick blow with the fist;" punch (v.) "to hit with the fist;" puncheon (n.2) "pointed tool for punching or piercing;" punctilio; punctilious; punctual; punctuate; punctuation; puncture; pungent; punty; pygmy; repugn; repugnance; repugnant.

It might also be the source of: Greek pyx "with clenched fist," pygme "fist, boxing," pyktes "boxer;" Latin pugnare "to fight," especially with the fists, pungere "to pierce, prick."

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