# pate

> English word · Noun · IPA /peɪt/ · frequency rank #33,784

## Definitions
1. The head, particularly the top or crown.
2. Wit, cleverness, cognitive abilities.

## Etymology
From Middle English pate, of uncertain origin. Perhaps a shortened form of Old French patene or Medieval Latin patena, both from Latin patina (“pan, dish”). Alternatively, perhaps akin to Old Frisian pote (“skull”).

## Easily confused with
- **pt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pt)
- **PE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pe)
- **put** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-put)
- **pay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pay)
- **pet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pet)
- **pot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pot)
- **pit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pit)
- **pie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pie)
- **pee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pee)
- **Poe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-poe)
- **paw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-paw)
- **PTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pts)
- **pax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pax)
- **PST** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pst)
- **PCT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pct)
- **Paz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-paz)
- **pau** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pau)
- **PTA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pta)
- **PTO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-pto)
- **PPE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pate-vs-ppe)

## Common misspellings (4)
`apte`, `patte`, `ppate`, `ptae`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pate