In English, we have several similar words that are derived from this French meaning (putrid is an example). Both words are related to Latin "putere" meaning "to

In English, we have several similar words that are derived from this French meaning (putrid is an example). Both words are related to Latin "putere" meaning "to stink". The ultimate root of these words is the Proto-Indo-European root word *pu- "to rot, stink" [1]. It is not clear if the current meaning of the term pee-yoo is derived from this Indo-European root. The first Oxford English Dictionary entry is in 1604, where it shows up with several different spellings: pue, peuh, peugh, pyoo, and pew [2]. The "stretching" of the word into two syllables must have happened sometime later. [1] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=putrid http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=putrid [2] http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2010/08/on-the-scent.html http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2010/08/on-the-scent.html