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

No chancellor wants to unpick a Budget, as George Osborne had to do in 2012 when he U-turned on the "pasty tax".

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

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

“Now let’s try this again,” Papá cooed into the two pasty girls’ ears as he kissed them and then turned around to look at us.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall