pate

plural pates

1. archaicThe head, particularly the top or crown.

   He had a shiny, bald pate.

   3 more examples

   For his vnhappynes ſhall come vpon his owne heade, ⁊ his wickednes ſhall fall vpon his owne pate.

   1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Psalm vij:[16], folio xiij, recto, column 2

   The whole benighted, blooming crew, The Puddin'-thieves, the Usher too, Are being beaten black and blue With bottles on the pate.

   1918, Norman Lindsay, The Magic Pudding, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 167

   He was a middle-aged Caucasian man with a balding pate; the skin on the top of his head was particularly bright and shiny that day.

   2021, Malinda Lo, Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Dutton Books for Young Readers, page 74

2. archaicWit, cleverness, cognitive abilities.

   I am reſolued, tis but a thee yeeres faſt: The minde ſhall banquet, though the body pine, Fat paunches haue leane pates: and daynty bits Make rich the ribbes, but banerout quite the wits.

   c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby, published 1598, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

   1 more example

   I thank thee for that ieſt; heer’s a garment for’t: Wit ſhall not goe vn-rewarded while I am King of this Country: Steale by line and leuell, is an excellent paſſe of pate: there’s another garment for’t.

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 16, column 1

plural pates

1. alternativeAlternative spelling of pâté (finely-ground paste of meat, fish, etc.)
2. The interior body, or non-rind portion of cheese, described by its texture, density, and color.

1. An island of Kenya.
2. A surname.