masc. proper name, from the surname, which is of Norman origin, from a place name, from Old French percer "to pierce, break through" (see pierce). As a given name sometimes also short for Percival (for which see Parzival). The colloquial connotation of weakness or effeminacy in the man's name is attested by 1916.
Entries linking to Percy
pierce (v.)
c. 1300 (c. 1200 as a surname), percen, "make a hole in; force one's way through; thrust through with or as with a sharp or pointed instrument," from Anglo-French perser, Old French percier "pierce, transfix, drive through" (12c., Modern French percer), probably from Vulgar Latin *pertusiare, frequentative of Latin pertusus, past participle of pertundere "to thrust or bore through," from per "through" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward," hence "through") + tundere "to beat, pound," from PIE *tund-, from root *(s)teu- "to push, strike, knock, beat, thrust" (see obtuse). Related: Pierced; piercing.
also Parsifal, hero of medieval legends, from Old French Perceval, literally "he who breaks through the valley," from percer "to pierce, break through" (see pierce) + val "valley" (see vale).
Share Percy
https://www.etymonline.com/word/Percy
<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/Percy">Etymology of Percy by etymonline</a>
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of Percy. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/Percy
Harper Douglas, "Etymology of Percy," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/Percy.
Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of Percy." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/Percy. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
D. Harper. "Etymology of Percy." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/Percy (accessed $(datetime)).
Definitions of Percy
Percy (n.)
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990);
Synonyms: Walker Percy
English soldier killed in a rebellion against Henry IV (1364-1403);
Synonyms: Sir Henry Percy / Hotspur / Harry Hotspur
Dictionary entries near Percy
percuss
percussionist
percutaneous
perdition
perdurable
*pere-
peregrinate