pa English · revision 5039

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1804|origins=en papa}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɑː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a colloquial shortening of [[papa]].^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Father, a childish or colloquial form: 1804 in Etymonline, 1811 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The OED records a one-off verb, to call someone pa.^(OED 1989) ''Pa-in-law'', a father-in-law, is colloquial.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1804 – father.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1811 – in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' [[father]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ma-and-pa]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[grandpa]]

+ * [[papa]]

+ * [[pop]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Another word pa, also spelled pah, is a Māori fortified village or settlement in New Zealand, from Māori pā, recorded from 1769.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) Capitalized, PA is an abbreviation for Pennsylvania, a public-address system and a personal assistant.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}