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

  1. Thoroughly practiced, rehearsed, or understood;...

Ancestry of “down pat”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpatThe sound of a light slap or tap with a soft flat...
2Middle Englishpatten—
3Middle Englishplattento strike with the hand; to slap
4Old Englishplættanto buffet; smack; to give a sounding blow
5Proto-Germanicplatjanąto strike, beat
6Proto-Indo-European*blod-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *blod- →Every word from Proto-Germanic platjaną →Every word from Old English plættan →