Paṭṭa
/ˈpʌtə/noun
A document or deed in India granting or recording rights to land.
Did you know?In South Asian history, a paṭṭa could formalize a ruler’s grant of land, making possession depend on a powerful written word.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
paṭṭa
“A strip, band, cloth, or tablet”
Medieval Sanskrit
Sanskrit
paṭṭa
“A document, title, or grant associated with authority”
Medieval Indo-Aryan
Prakrit/Apabhraṃśa
paṭṭa
“A strip, record, or formal grant”
Medieval Hindi
Hindi
paṭṭā
“A deed or written grant of land”
18th–19th Century
Anglo-Indian English
patta
“An Indian land-tenure document or lease”
Modern English
English
patta
“A document recording rights to land in India”