pitch
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GC: n

S: EncBrit; TERMIUMPLUS; GDT.

N: 1. pitch (n.) (n.2): “resinous substance, wood tar,” late 12c., pich, from Old English pic “pitch,” from a Germanic borrowing (Old Saxon and Old Frisian pik, Middle Dutch pik, Dutch pek, Old High German pek, German Pech, Old Norse bik) of Latin pix (genitive picis) “pitch,” from PIE root *pi- “sap, juice” (cognates: Greek pissa, Lithuanian pikis, Old Church Slavonic piklu “pitch;” see pine (n.)). Applied to pine resins from late 14c. Pitch-black is attested from 1590s; pitch-dark from 1680s.
2. pitch, in the chemical-process industries, the black or dark brown residue obtained by distilling coal tar, wood tar, fats, fatty acids, or fatty oils.
3. Coal tar pitch is a soft to hard and brittle substance containing chiefly aromatic resinous compounds along with aromatic and other hydrocarbons and their derivatives; it is used chiefly as road tar, in waterproofing roofs and other structures, and to make electrodes.
4. Wood tar pitch is a bright, lustrous substance containing resin acids; it is used chiefly in the manufacture of plastics and insulating materials and in caulking seams.
5. A dark-coloured, highly viscous residue obtained from the distillation of coal tar.
6. brea: A viscous asphalt formed by the evaporation of volatile components from oil in seepages.
7. The term “pitch” should not be confused with “bitumen” (UK) or “asphalt” (USA) which are petroleum residues.
8. brea: a rarely used term.

S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=pitch&searchmode=none (last access. 4 September 2014). 2, 3 & 4. EncBrit. 5, 6, 7 & 8. TERMIUMPLUS.

SYN: 1. tar, tough pitch. 2. tough pitch, pitch mastic, brea (rare).

S: 1. GDT. 2. TERMIUMPLUS.

CR: artificial asphalt, asphalt, bitumen, bituminous coal, coal, coke, coking-plant, natural gas, petroleum, tar.