painter (n.1)

early 14c., peintour, "artist who paints pictures," from Old French peintor, from Latin pictor "a painter," from pingere (see paint (v.)). Sense of "workman who colors surfaces with paint" is from c. 1400. As a surname, Painter is attested from mid-13c. but it is difficult to say which sense is meant. Related: Painterly.

mid-14c., "rope or chain that holds an anchor to a ship's side," probably from Old French peintor, ultimately from Latin pendere "to hang, cause to hang" (from PIE root *(s)pen- "to draw, stretch, spin"). Extended generally to "rope attached to the bow of a boat."