| 释义 |
▪ I. pat, n.1|pæt|
Also 5 patte, 7–8 patt.
[Late ME. pat, patte, was prob. onomatopœic, as an instinctive expression of the action by ‘vocal gesture’. The later uses are to a great extent nouns of action from pat v.1 in its various applications.]
I. The action.
1. A stroke or blow with a flat or blunt surface. Obs. exc. dial.
(Perh. formed anew from the vb. in 17th c.)
c1400Laud Troy-Bk. 8841 He gaff hem aȝeyn suche pattis That thei fel doun as dede cattis. Ibid. 16777 Sche ȝaff him certis suche a pat That doun to grounde he fel flat. a1440Sir Eglam. 1241 Syr Egyllamowre turnyd hys swerde flatt, And gafe hys sone soche a patte, That to the erthe he ys gone. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. ii. v. 66 The flat hand of Rhetorick..rather gives pats than blows. 1676G. Etherege Man of Mode iv. i, Hit her a pat for me there. a1764Lloyd Fam. Ep. to J. B. Esq. Poems (1790) 207 He..would not for the World rebuke, Beyond a pat, the school⁓boy Duke. 1823E. Moor Suffolk Words s.v., A pat..is..the punishment inflicted by a pedagogue on the palm of unruly boys. 1886Elworthy W. Som. Word-bk. s.v., Hares and rabbits when caught..are..killed by a pat on the poll.
2. a. A stroke or tap with a flat surface, so as to flatten or smooth.
Mod. Give the earth a pat with your trowel.
b. spec. A gentle stroke or tap with the hand or fingers, esp. as a caress or in expression of soothing or approbation. Also fig., esp. in phr. a pat on the back (also head.)
c1804Lady Hamilton in G. Rose's Diaries (1860) I. 241 Sir William..never got even a pat on the back. c1850Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 214 She..frequently gave him gentle pats with her hand. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. i. iv, To give him a kiss and a pat or two on the cheek. 1881Doran Drury Lane II. 213 A pat on the head from a master's hand is the supreme delight of the ever-faithful dog. 1898Quiller-Couch Stevenson's St. Ives 306 A word of approbation—a little pat on the back, as I may say. 1933E. O'Neill Ah, Wilderness! (1934) i. 41 He gives him an approving pat on the back. 1952M. Allingham Tiger in Smoke iv. 81 He had liked the boy... The present assignment had been in the nature of a personal pat on the head for him. 1969Listener 15 May 698/2 A pat on the back for the regional bulletin South-East, which gave Eastbourne's maligned medical officer a chance to explain..what he really meant about the artificial prolongation of life into living death. 1973L. Meynell Thirteen Trumpeters vi. 100 If I could dive like that—well, I'd give myself a big pat on the back.
II. That which is formed by patting.
3. a. A small mass of some soft substance (e.g. butter), formed or shaped by patting.
1754Whitaker in World No. 83. III. 116 He has produced a clap of thunder which blew out a candle..with a flash of lightening which made an impression on a pat of butter. 1788Cowper Let. in Sotheby's Catal. (1897) 29 Apr. 20 One ounce of Castile soap scraped fine..with as much honey as will bring it to a consistency for rolling into pills. Liquorice powder is very proper to dust the patts with while forming it into pills. 1844J. T. J. Hewlett Parsons & W. iii, The butter is served up in such very diminutive pats. 1891Ld. Hobhouse in Law Times Rep. LXV. 562/2 Butterine..was made up into pats and sold from the retail shop.
b. transf. Something of the shape and size, or appearance, of a pat of butter (or the like).
1852R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour (1893) 93 Both volumes richly bound and lettered, with the Jawleyford crests studded down the backs, and an immense pat of arms plastered on the side. 1888C. F. Woolson in Harper's Mag. Oct. 776/1 It was raining..in torrents, with great pats of water coming over, almost like stones.
c. = cow-pad, -pat. Also of other animals.
1940F. Sargeson Man & Wife (1944) 22 On cold mornings we'd watch out, and whenever a cow dropped a nice big pat we'd race for it, and the one who got there first wouldn't let the others put their feet in. 1957V. Nabokov Pnin iii. 63 The bright pat of dog dirt somebody had already slipped upon. 1959C. T. M. Herriot tr. Voisin's Grass Productivity ii. 115 The scattering of dung pats over the whole area of a pasture could make the cattle anything but willing to graze. 1966‘J. Hackston’ Father clears Out 181 A cow,..will,..in a most flagrant manner, deposit a pat fair bang in the bail. 1973G. Mitchell Murder of Busy Lizzie iv. 51 The rough road..was muddy with the tramplings of cattle and plentifully endowed with large pats of cow-dung.
III. The sound. (Cf. pad n.5)
4. a. The sound made by striking lightly with something flat; esp. that made by a light foot in walking or running; hence, rate of walking or running, pace.
1697Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. i. vi. 219 The least Noise is enough to disturb the Operation of his Brain... The Patt of a shittle Cock, or the creaking of a Jack will do his Business. 1833T. Hook Widow & Marquess vii, Up hill and down hill..all at the same pat. 1889Mrs. Oliphant Poor Gentleman xvi. I. 295 No sound but..the pat of those footsteps which scarcely touched the ground.
b. Reduplicated, to express repetition.
1876J. Saunders Lion in Path xvii, The peculiar wooden-sounding pat-pat of a lady's fashionable boot. 1899Werner Capt. of Locusts 67 The pat-pat of bare feet on the matting.
▪ II. pat, n.4 U.S. Shooting slang.|pæt|
[Shortened form of patridge partridge n.]
= partridge n., used esp. of the ruffed grouse (see partridge n. B. 1 b). (Recorded chiefly in areas of Michigan.)
1934Field & Stream Dec. 20/3 The ‘r’ is often dropped, and colloquial language has it pa'tridge. This is often shortened to ‘pat’. 1958Ibid. Dec. 96/3 There are purist pat hunters who swear that a dog is excess baggage in grouse thickets. 1967Detroit Free Press 15 Oct. c8/7 Both dogs froze, noses nearly touching the clump of prickly ash. The pat evidently didn't like the sudden silence, and exploded upward. 1972Hunting & Fishing in Michigan 1/2 Forests and dense bushy areas are home to Ruffed Grouse, or ‘Pats’. 1980Outdoor Life (U.S) (Northeast ed.) Oct. 51/2 If you shoot at a flushed pat, you have a responsibility to follow it up.
▪ III. pat, on one's
see Pat Malone.
▪ IV. pat, v.1|pæt|
[Related to pat n.1, and perh. directly formed from it in senses 1 and 2.]
†1. trans. To cause (something) to strike or hit upon any surface; to throw (something) upon anything so as to strike it. Obs. rare.
1567Golding Ovid's Met. xii. 508 Like haylestones from a tyled house, or as a man should pat Small stones vppon a dromslets head.
2. To hit, to strike, properly with a flat or blunt implement; also, to drive or impel by so striking, as a ball with the hand. Obs. exc. dial.
In later use, perh. ironical from 5.
1591R. Turnbull Exp. St. James 196 Thus was the pryde of Goliah resisted, when..David..with his sling stone patted him on the pate. a1604Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1633) 166 One takes a sticke, and pats the Irish man on the pate, another..pricks him behinde with a pinne. a1825Jew's Daughter i. in Child Ballads v. (1888) 251/1 And all the boys and girls to-day Do play at pat the ball. Ibid. ii, They patted it into the Jew's garden. 1886Elworthy W. Som. Word-bk., Pat on the poll, phr., to kill by a blow such as would dislocate the neck.
3. intr. To tap or beat lightly (upon any surface).
1601Holland Pliny xii. i. 358 To heare the showers of raine to pat drop by drop, and rattle over his head upon the leaves. 1626Bacon Sylva §63 It is Childrens sport, to proue whether they can rub vpon their Brest with one hand, and pat vpon their Fore-head with another. 1771Luckombe Hist. Print. 447 Patting upon the Face of the Letter where it Hangs, with the Balls of the Fingers. 1861G. F. Berkeley Sportsm. W. Prairies xxi. 349 Asked them who could ‘pat’ as an accompaniment to a dance and song. 1902J. S. Phillimore Poems, Rain at Naples, On dusty road and tree Drops, kicking up the faint smells where they pat.
4. trans. To strike (something) more or less gently with a flat surface, so as to flatten or smooth; to flatten down by such action.
1607T. Walkington Opt. Glass xii. (1664) 127 The Hyacinth..patted down to the Earth with suddain drops of Rain. 1676Worlidge Cyder (1691) 67 Cover the loose ground about the tree, and pat it smooth with the back of your spade. 1801in Southey's Thalaba iii. Notes, Wks. 1838 IV. 111 After they have kneaded the cake..they pat it a little. 1901H. McHugh John Henry 48 Clara Jane..patted her hat-pins and grabbed her gloves.
b. Brick-making. To remove the rough edge of (green bricks) with a stamper.
1895in Funk's Stand. Dict.
5. esp. To strike or clap gently with the inner surface of the fingers, esp. as an expression of approbation, encouragement, soothing, or sympathy; hence fig. to express such feeling to (any one), esp. in to pat on the back.
[1668Dryden Even. Love ii. i, We love to get our mistresses..and let them go a little way; and..to pat them back again.] 1714Byrom Phœbe v. in Spect. No. 603 Phœbe..to my dog said, Come hither, poor Fellow, and patted his Head. 1791R. Cumberland Observer No. 143. V. 198 ‘Brava!’ quoth he, patting the neck of his mule. 1813M. Edgeworth Patron. xiii, The child patted Caroline's cheek, played with her hair. 1821Examiner 770/1 Thus is the already inflated faction patted up against the irritated majority. 1821M. Edgeworth Let. 18 Nov. (1971) 270 Sydney Smith who wrote the review..first patted his friend Holford on the back and then cut him up. 1866Galaxy I. 750 It seems as if John Bull would never have done patting us on the back for our performance of a very plain and simple duty. 1874Green Short Hist. vii. §3. 363 She [Elizabeth] patted handsome young squires on the neck when they knelt to kiss her hand. 1884Chr. Commw. 14 Feb. 424/3 We..pat every man on the back who has the courage of his convictions. 1946E. O'Neill Iceman Cometh (1947) iii. 148 Dey all pat me on de back and say, ‘Joe, you sure is white.’ 1973Washington Post 13 Jan. B 8/6 ‘We broke our arm, trying to pat ourselves on the back,’ is the way Wood now describes the ad.
6. intr. To tap or strike lightly so as to produce a characteristic sound; esp. to walk or run with a light step emitting such sound. Cf. pad v.1 2. Also reduplicated, pat-pat.
1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 135 A humming of mixed voices, and patting feet was heard. 1767E. Jerningham Alisia ix, She fondly cried—Oh that is he! While patted fast her heart. 1801Bloomfield Rural T., Fakenham Ghost vi, A short quick step she hears Come patting close behind. 1803M. Charlton Wife & Mistress IV. 91 It makes a body shiver to hear you pat-patting in those tiny slippers. 1889Spectator 2 Nov., A small, white dog pats along..we can hear the beat of the four light paws upon the country-road.
b. trans. To beat with light-sounding steps.
1798Landor Gebir vii. 205 When ye heard My feet in childhood pat the palace-floor.
7. The vb. stem used advb. or as an interj.
1681Otway Soldiers Fort. v. i, What's that upon the Stairs?.. Hist, hark, pat, pat, pat. 1801Bloomfield Rural T., Fakenham Ghost xiii, Still on, pat, pat, the Goblin went, As it had done before. a1849Holmes Spectre Pig xxii, Little mincing feet were heard Pat, pat along the floor.
Hence ˈpatting vbl. n. and ppl. a.
1611Cotgr., Marchis,..a path beaten out by often patting, or treading. 1726–31Waldron Descr. Isle Man (1865) 65 Smiles, pattings on the cheek, and all the marks of a most sincere and tender passion. 1727Gay Fables i. xiii. 22 He stands, To feel the praise of patting hands. 1885‘L. Malet’ Col. Enderby's Wife (ed. 3) II. iii. vi. 44 She..slowly settled her mantle into its place, with sundry dainty pattings and smoothings.
▪ V. † pat, v.2 Obs. nonce-wd.
[f. pat adv.]
trans. To bring out ‘pat’.
1575R. B. Appius & Virg. B j b, Mansipulus. By the gods how vngraciously the vicksen she chatteth. Mansipula. And he euen as knauishly my answer he patteth.
▪ VI. pat, adv. and a.|pæt|
Also 6 patte, 7 patt.
[app. closely related to pat n.1, v.1: perh. immediately from the vb. stem, as in the expressions to fall crash, come pop, go bang, etc. A frequent early use was to hit pat, as if to hit with a pat, i.e. with a flat blow; hence with fall, lie, come, etc.
The predicative use (sense 2) was in origin adverbial; cf. to lie pat, come pat, be pat; but after be it had the same function as an adj. in the predicate; hence the transition to the attrib. or adj. use (sense 3), at first after a n. was easy.]
1. adv. In a way that hits, and does not miss its object or aim; in a manner that fits or agrees to a nicety with the purpose or occasion; so as exactly to suit the purpose; appositely, aptly; in the very nick of time, opportunely; so as to be ready for any occasion, readily, promptly.
1578Whetstone 1st Pt. Promos & Cass. iv. vi, I chaunst to light on one, Hyt me as pat as a pudding Pope Ione. 1580Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 296 When I heard my Physition so pat to hit my disease. 1581Confl. Consc. ii. iii. in Hazl. Dodsley VI. 62, I will pay them home pat. 1589Nashe Almond for Parrat 6 b, Haue not I hit your meaning patte in this comparison? 1592Greene Art Conny Catch. iii. Wks. (Grosart) X. 151 Seeing things fadge so pat to his purpose. 1596Nashe Saffron-Walden Wks. (Grosart) III. 52 If they will hit the nayle on the head pat. 1602Shakes. Ham. iii. iii. 74 Now I might do it pat, now he is praying. 1639Fuller Holy War iv. xxi. (1840) 218 An unhappy nation whose heads lie pat for every one's hands to hit. 1658W. Burton Itin. Anton. 176 Camden.. seems..to have lighted pat upon the place. 1665–6Pepys Diary 20 Feb., I came just pat to be a godfather. 1733Swift On Poetry 61 And here a simile comes pat in. 1882Mrs. J. H. Riddell Pr. Wales's Garden-Party 259 He..had the whole story pat enough.
2. predicatively: as adv. or adj. (as in 1 or 3).
1638Wilkins New World v. (1707) 41 Whose Words are more pat to the purpose. 1656Sanderson Serm. (1689) 80 A passage..very pat to his purpose. 1710in Hearne Collect. 7 Mar. (O.H.S.) II. 355 A Mitre may be pat to his Mind. 1820W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 124 To tell a rather broad story out of Joe Miller, that was pat to the purpose. 1903Sat. Rev. 17 Oct. 482 He has pat..the denunciations of sacerdotalism with which the same deputed ones will attack the Church of England.
3. attrib. or as adj. That comes or lies exactly to the purpose; exactly suitable or to the purpose, apposite, apt; ready or suitable for the occasion, opportune. (Said esp. of things spoken.)
1646J. Hall Poems, To young Authour, With phansies queint and gay expressions pat. 1648‘Mercurius Pragmaticus’ Plea for King 3 Having a pat occasion offered them. a1677Barrow Wks. (1687) I. Serm. xiv. 195 Sometimes it [facetiousness] lieth in pat allusion to a known story. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 47 Concerning..these Winds, perhaps some others may give patter Guesses than my self. 1788Cowper Pity for Africans 18 A story so pat, you may think it is coined. 1852Thackeray Esmond iii. ii, Backing his opinion with a score of pat sentences from Greek and Roman authorities.
b. pat hand (in the game of Poker): see quot. 1889.
c1868How Gamblers Win 51 When quick work is to be made with a victim, ‘pat hands’, in other words, hands which fall complete,..are given out. 1889Farmer Americanisms, Pat Hand (in poker), an original hand not likely to be improved by drawing, such as full, straight, flush, or pairs. 1903Architect 24 Apr., Suppl. 28/2 Anybody's liable to play a pat hand too strong.
▪ VII. pat
obs. f. pate; var. patte; dial. f. pot; obs. or dial. pa. tense of put. |