- plate (n.)
- mid-13c., "flat sheet of gold or silver," also "flat, round coin," from O.Fr. plate "thin piece of metal" (late 12c.), from M.L. plata "plate, piece of metal," perhaps via V.L. *plattus from Gk. platys "flat, broad" (see place (n.)). The cognate in Sp. (plata) and Port. (prata) has become the usual word for "silver," superseding argento via shortening of *plata d'argento "plate of silver, coin." Meaning "table utensils" (originally of silver or gold only) is from M.E. Meaning "shallow dish for food," now usually of china or earthenware, originally of metal or wood, is from mid-15c. Baseball sense is from 1857. Geological sense is first attested 1904; plate tectonics first recorded 1969. Plate-glass first recorded 1727.