Patina
/ˈpætɪnə/noun
A thin surface layer or sheen that forms on metal, wood, or other materials through age or use.
Did you know?Patina comes from Latin patina, meaning a shallow pan or dish, and only later shifted to mean the surface film on metal, so the word’s “aged beauty” is really a metaphor born from cookware.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peh₂-
“to spread, extend, or open out”
Latin
Latin
patina
“a shallow dish, pan, or tray”
Late Latin
Latin
patina
“a dish; later, a surface film or coating”
16th Century
English
patine / patina
“a film or sheen on a surface, especially on metal”
Modern English
English
patina
“the surface appearance produced by age, wear, or chemical change”