Where does “down pat” come from?
down pat (English) comes from English pat, from Middle English patten, from Middle English platten, from Old English plættan, from Proto-Germanic platjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *blod-.
down pat (English): Thoroughly practiced, rehearsed, or understood;...
Definitions
- Thoroughly practiced, rehearsed, or understood;...
Ancestry of “down pat”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | pat | The sound of a light slap or tap with a soft flat... |
| 2 | Middle English | patten | — |
| 3 | Middle English | platten | to strike with the hand; to slap |
| 4 | Old English | plættan | to buffet; smack; to give a sounding blow |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | platjaną | to strike, beat |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | *blod- | — |