Etymology

First element from Vulgar Latin *patta ‎(“paw, foot”), from Frankish *patta ‎(“paw, sole of the foot”), from Proto-Germanic *pat-, *paþa- ‎(“to walk, tread, go, step”), of uncertain origin and relation. Possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pent-, *(s)pat- ‎(“path; to walk”), a variant of Proto-Indo-European *pent-, *pat- ‎(“path; to go”). Cognate with Dutch pad, patte ‎(“paw”), Low German pedden ‎(“to step, tread”); second element unknown.