palate

What it means

1. The roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the mouth and nose in vertebrates.
   1. anatomyA part associated with the mouth of certain invertebrates, somewhat analogous to the palate of vertebrates.First known use 14th c.

      Synonyms: uraniscus

   2. rareanatomyThe hypopharynx of an insect.First known use 14th c.

      Synonyms: uraniscus

   3. anatomyA projection in the throat of certain bilabiate flowers as the snapdragon.First known use 14th c.

      Synonyms: uraniscus

In a sentence

I remember, when he was in Scotland, his praising ‘Gordon's palates’ (a dish of palates at the Honourable Alexander Gordon's) with a warmth of expression which might have done for honour to more important subjects.

1791, James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, Oxford, page 332

Where it comes from

1. Proto-Indo-European*pleth₂-?
2. Proto-Indo-European*pel-?
3. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₂-os
4. Latinpalātum
5. Old Frenchpalat
6. Middle Englishpalate
7. Englishpalate

From Middle English palate, from Latin palātum (“roof of the mouth, palate”), perhaps of Etruscan origin.

First known use: 14th c.