pasty

¹ American  

[pey-stee] / ˈpeɪ sti /

adjective

pastier, pastiest

1. of or like paste in consistency, texture, color, etc.

   Synonyms:

   sallow, wan, ashy, ashen, pale

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noun

plural

pasties

1. pasties, a pair of small, cuplike coverings for the nipples of a stripper, nude model, etc.

pasty ² American  

[pas-tee] / ˈpæs ti /

noun

Chiefly British.

plural

pasties

1. a pie filled with game, fish, or the like.

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pasty ¹ British  

/ ˈpeɪstɪ /

adjective

1. of or like the colour, texture, etc, of paste

2. (esp of the complexion) pale or unhealthy-looking

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noun

1. either one of a pair of small round coverings for the nipples used by striptease dancers

pasty ² British  

/ ˈpæstɪ /

noun

1. a round of pastry folded over a filling of meat, vegetables, etc

   Cornish pasty

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Other Word Forms

• pastily adverb
• pastiness noun

Etymology

Origin of pasty¹

1650–60 pasty ¹ for def. 1; 1950–55 pasty ¹ for def. 2; paste + -y ¹ pasty ¹ ( for def. 1 ), -y ² pasty ¹ ( for def. 2 )

Origin of pasty²

1250–1300; Middle English pastee < Middle French. See pâté

Example Sentences

Mr Pegg referred to the collection as "the pasty" due to the coins being wrapped in a cloth bundle which was barely bigger than a Cornish pasty.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2025

And, of course, the town still cherishes and serves up the pasty.

From New York Times • Apr. 8, 2024

In a large bowl, mash the rice with a fork until smooth and pasty.

From Washington Times • Sep. 27, 2023

He now mixes a pasty, cold wax in with his linseed oil and paint to create a unique concoction that gives the canvas surface a translucency that he sees as “parallel to the porcelain.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2023

There was no smile on that pasty face; his close-cropped haircut was gone, his hair now puffy and uneven.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro