to strike lightly or gently with something flat, as with a paddle or the palm of the hand, usually in order to flatten, smooth, or shape: to pat dough into flat pastry forms.
to stroke or tap gently with the palm or fingers as an expression of affection, approbation, etc.
to strike (the floor, ground, etc.) with light footsteps.
verb (used without object),pat·ted,pat·ting.
to strike lightly or gently.
to walk or run with light footsteps.
noun
a light stroke, tap, or blow with the palm, fingers, or a flat object.
the sound of a light stroke or of light footsteps.
a small piece or mass, usually flat and square, formed by patting, cutting, etc.: a pat of butter.
Idioms
a pat on the back, a word of praise, congratulations, or encouragement: Everyone needs a pat on the back now and then.
pat down, to pat or pass the hands over the body of (a clothed person) to detect concealed weapons, drugs, etc.
pat on the back, to praise, congratulate, or encourage: The boss patted him on the back for the deal he made yesterday.
Origin of pat
1
1375–1425;late Middle Englishpat blow, stroke, apparently of expressive orig.
c.1400, "a blow, stroke," perhaps originally imitative of the sound of patting. Meaning "light tap with hand" is from c.1804. Sense of "that which is formed by patting" (as in pat of butter) is 1754, probably from the verb. Pat on the back in the figurative sense attested by 1804.
pat
adv.
"aptly, suitably, at the right time," 1570s, perhaps from pat (adj.) in sense of "that which hits the mark," a special use from pat (n.) in sense of "a hitting" of the mark. The modern adjective is 1630s, from the adverb.
pat
v.
1560s, "to hit, throw;" meaning "to tap or strike lightly" is from 1714; from pat (n.). Related: Patted; patting. The nursery rhyme phrase pat-a-cake is known from 1823. Alternative patty-cake (usually American English) is attested from 1794 (in "Mother Goose's Melody, or Sonnets for the Cradle," Worcester, Mass.).
Pat
as a fem. proper name, short for Patricia. As a masc. proper name, short for Patrick; hence a nickname for any Irishman.
