Palate

Palate

Noun · /ˈpæl.ɪt/

Definition

(1) The roof of the mouth, separating the oral and nasal cavities — consisting of the hard palate (bony front part) and the soft palate (muscular rear part). (2) A person's ability to taste or appreciate flavours — one's sense of taste; a discriminating appreciation of food and drink. (3) By extension, one's appreciation or taste for any art, style, or aesthetic experience.

Origin

From Latin palatum (the roof of the mouth), of unknown further etymology — not derived from Greek or any other identifiable source, suggesting it may be a native Latin word. The anatomical sense being primary and long-established. The figurative extension to taste and appreciation — a refined palate, a palate for wine — appearing from the sixteenth century, based on the idea that the palate is the organ of taste, and therefore one's palate being synonymous with one's discriminating taste.