Pat
/pæt/noun
To tap or stroke lightly with the hand.
Did you know?The verb and noun in English are imitative in origin, but they were strongly influenced by older words meaning a slap or blow, which is why the word can feel both affectionate and abrupt.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
patten
“To strike or tap lightly; make a gentle tapping sound”
Middle Dutch
Dutch
patten
“To strike, slap, or tap”
Old French
French
patte
“A paw or foot; also a slap-like tap in some regional uses”
Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*patt-
“An imitative base suggesting a tap, slap, or light blow”
Modern English
English
pat
“To tap or stroke lightly with the hand”