What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Pat vs Paw - What's the difference?

pat | paw |

As a proper noun paw is

.

pat

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) . For loss of ''l , compare (patch) for (platch); (pate) for (plate), etc. See (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • The sound of a light slap or tap with a soft flat object, especially of a footstep
  • A light tap or slap, especially with the hands
  • A flattish lump of soft matter, especially butter or dung.
  • * Charles Dickens
    • It looked like a tessellated work of pats of butter.
    Derived terms
    * pat on the back (n.) * patter * pitter-pat: a diminutive of footfalls. "the pitter-pat of little feet running around the house."

    Verb

    (patt)
  • To (gently) tap the flat of one's hand on a person or thing.
    • To show affection, he decided he would pat the boy on the head.
  • * 1877 , (Anna Sewell), (Black Beauty) Chapter 22[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Black_Beauty/22]
    • He came round to each of us to pat and speak to us for the last time; his voice sounded very sad.
  • To hit lightly and repeatedly with the flat of the hand to make smooth or flat
    • I patted the cookie dough into shape.
  • * 1900 , L. Frank Baum , The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 23
    • Before they went to see Glinda, however, they were taken to a room of the Castle, where Dorothy washed her face and combed her hair, and the Lion shook the dust out of his mane, and the Scarecrow patted himself into his best shape, and the Woodman polished his tin and oiled his joints.
  • (Australia, New Zealand) To stroke or fondle (an animal).
    • Do you want to pat the cat?
  • To gently rain.
    • Derived terms
    * pat down * pat on the back (v.)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • timely, suitable, apt, opportune, ready for the occasion; especially of things spoken
    • a pat expression
  • * 1788, Cowper, Pity for Africans , p 18
    • A story so pat , you may think it is coined.
  • trite, being superficially complete, lacking originality
  • * 2010, New York Times , Editorial: Jobs and the Class of 2010, May 23.
    • The pat answer is that college students should consider graduate school as a way to delay a job search until things turn around, and that more high school students should go to college to improve their prospects. ''
    Derived terms
    * pat hand

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • opportunely, in a timely or suitable way.
  • * c''. 1600 , William Shakespeare, '' III.iii
    • Now might I do it pat
  • Perfectly.
    • He has the routine down pat .
    Derived terms
    * pat in the middle

    See also

    * strike * hit * feel * name

    Etymology 2

    Abbreviation.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • patent
  • (knitting) pattern
  • * 2012 , Kari Cornell, Knitting Sweaters from around the World (page 52)
    • Work in pat to next underarm marker, sm, place next st on holder

    Anagrams

    * ----

    paw

    English

    Alternative forms

    * pa

    Etymology 1

    The word probably has an origin in : see ‘pa’ .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (nonstandard, or, rural) Father; pa.
    • Synonyms
    * (father :) pawpaw, pa, papa, father, dad, daddy, pappy
    Hypernyms
    * (father :) parent
    Hyponyms
    * (father :) step-paw
    Coordinate terms
    * maw, brother, sis/sissy
    Derived terms
    * pawpaw
    Related terms
    * pa

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) pawe'', from (etyl) '' *''p?ta'' (compare Dutch ''poot'', Low German Pote, German ''Pfote''), from *''p?ton'' 'to put, stick, plant' (compare Dutch ''poten'' 'to plant'), from (etyl) 'paw'), Ancient Greek "????". More at put.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The soft foot of a mammal or other animal, generally a quadruped, that has claws or nails; comparable to a human hand or foot.
  • (humorous) A hand.
    • Get your grubby paws off my things!
    Synonyms
    * (of a mammal :) hand, foot
    Hypernyms
    * (foot of a mammal :) limb extremity
    Meronyms
    * claw, finger
    Holonyms
    * limb
    Coordinate terms
    * hoof, talon
    Derived terms
    * paw (verb ) * pawprint(s) * catpaw
    Related terms
    * possibly German Pfote * cat's paw

    Etymology 3

    From the noun paw'', meaning ''an animal's hand or foot .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (of an animal) To go through something (such as a garbage can) with paws
  • (of an animal) To gently push on something with a paw.
  • (of an animal) To draw the forefoot along the ground; to beat or scrape with the forefoot.
  • * Bible, Job xxxix. 21
    • He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
  • (by extension, of a human) To touch someone (with the hands) in a sexual way.
  • * August 17 1997 , Robert Spector, in misc.fitness.weights :
    • IronMan used to be good in this way, back in the '80s. They wouldn't subscribe to the old, "Let's put a male bodybuilder with silicone babes pawing him" cover that's mainstay now.
  • * October 26 1997 , Verbotene, quoted by Amy McWilliams, in rec.arts.tv.soaps.abc :
    • So, Katherine was out with Luke and they were both quite dolled up and swoon-worthy. Katherine fawned all over Luke and pawed him, but to what end? Was Stefan supposed to believe that Luke and Katherine have some sort of a thing going? What was the point of this display from Katherine's perspective?
  • * July 18 2002 , Lurker Dave, in rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe :
    • Subtlety is great, but what exactly happened with Jessica and the cop during sex that he locked her up afterwards? Also, what was the item she nicked from his shirt while she pawed him?
  • (by extension, of a human) To clumsily dig through something.
    • Hypernyms
    * (to go through something with paws) handle * (to gently push on something) touch
    See also
    * palpate * paw off

    Anagrams

    * * * ----