pith
1. pith \'pith\ n [ME, fr. OE pitha; akin to MD & MLG pit pith, pit] 1a: a
usu. continuous central strand of spongy tissue in the stems of most
vascular plants that prob. functions chiefly in storage 1b: any of various
loose spongy plant tissues that resemble true pith 1c: the soft or spongy
interior of a part of the body 2a: the essential part : CORE 2b:
substantial quality (as of meaning) 3: IMPORTANCE, SIGNIFICANCE
2. pith vt 1a: to kill (as cattle) by piercing or severing the spinal cord
1b: to destroy the spinal cord or central nervous system of (as a frog) us
u. by passing a wire or needle up and down the vertebral canal 2: to remove
the pith from (a plant stem)