# pimple

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɪmp(ə)l/ · frequency rank #35,880

## Definitions
1. An inflamed (raised and colored) spot on the surface of the skin that is usually painful and fills with pus.
2. An annoying person.
3. Scotch (whisky)

## Etymology
Early Modern English pimple, pumple, from Middle English pymple, pympyl, of uncertain origin but probably a nasalized variant of Old English *pipel, *pypel, from Old English piplian, pyplian (“to break out in pimples, show eruptions”), probably related to Latin papula (“pimple, pustule”) (from Proto-Indo-European *pap- (“pock mark, nipple”)). Akin to Old English pipliġende (“having shingles”).

## Easily confused with
- **pipe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pimple-vs-pipe)
- **pimps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pimple-vs-pimps)
- **purple** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pimple-vs-purple)
- **pile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pile-vs-pimple)
- **pimp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pimp-vs-pimple)
- **people** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/people-vs-pimple)
- **pickle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pickle-vs-pimple)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ipmple`, `pimlpe`, `pimmple`, `pimpel`, `pimplle`, `pimpple`, `pipmle`, `pmiple`, `ppimple`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pimple