papa

[pah-puh, puh-pah]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR papa ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(initial capital letter) a code word used in communications, especially by radio, to represent the letter P.

Origin of papa

1675–85; < French; Middle French pappa (nursery word); compare Latin pāpa father (see pope), Old Norse pāpi, pabbi father. See pap¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for papa

dad, pop, daddy, pa

Examples from the Web for papa

Contemporary Examples of papa

The Amazon biography for an author named Papa Faal mentions both Gambia and lists a military record that matches the FBI report.
The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country
Jacob Siegel
January 6, 2015
In the background, outside, is Papa Legba, who is a Loa, the word for a Voodoo deity.
‘Gods of Suburbia’: Dina Goldstein’s Arresting Photo Series on Religion vs. Consumerism
Dina Goldstein
November 8, 2014
Her demand was simple: I will not marry Loras Tyrell (i.e., the “renowned pillow-biter” to whom Papa Tywin has betrothed her).
Best ‘Game of Thrones’ Season Yet
Andrew Romano
June 16, 2014
“Like Papa,” this too made me proud that they would make such a comparison.
Life as an Undocumented Immigrant
Jose Antonio Vargas
April 28, 2014
In it, Papa Cruz rants and raves about the “crisis” this country is facing because of its “Marxist” president.
House of Cruz: the Making of Ted Cruz
Michelle Cottle
November 1, 2013

Historical Examples of papa

You and my other uncle can do a great deal for me, if you please, with my papa.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
There was nothing like that in Connie Hancock's Papa's house.
Life and Death of Harriett Frean
May Sinclair
Papa was the Pussycat and she was the little mouse in her hole under the bed-clothes.
Life and Death of Harriett Frean
May Sinclair
"He's no business to behave as if it was Papa's fault," said Harriett.
Life and Death of Harriett Frean
May Sinclair
Your papa and I wish you to say nothing whatever about it to any one.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald

British Dictionary definitions for papa

papa

noun

old-fashioned an informal word for father (def. 1)

Word Origin for papa

C17: from French, a children's word for father; compare Late Latin pāpa, Greek pappa

papa

noun

RC Church another name for the pope 1 (def. 1)

Word Origin for papa

C16: from Italian

papa

noun

NZ rare. a soft blue-grey clay of marine siltstone or sandstone

Word Origin for papa

Māori

Papa

noun

communications a code word for the letter p

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for papa

"father," 1680s, from French papa, from Latin papa, originally a child's word, cf. Greek pappa (vocative) "o father," pappas "father," pappos "grandfather." The native word is daddy; first use of papa was in courtly speech, as a continental affectation, not used by common folk until late 18c.