pa

Everyday

1. (informal, old-fashioned) Pa is a word for father or dad, used mostly in old stories and in some families. tree →
2. (abbreviation) p.a. means per annum, Latin for each year, as in a salary of 30,000 pounds p.a. tree →
3. (science) Pa is the short symbol for pascal, the unit for measuring pressure. tree →
4. (abbreviation) PA can mean a personal assistant (a helper at work) or a public address system (loudspeakers). tree →
5. (New Zealand, Maori) A pa is a Maori village or hill fort, often with fences and ditches. tree →

In the lessons

In old stories, such as books about farm families in America, children call their parents Ma and Pa. In science and weather, Pa (pascal) measures pressure; hPa (hectopascal) is used on weather maps. In everyday life the PA announces things at school or the station. In New Zealand history lessons a pa is a fortified Maori settlement.

Examples

• Pa came home from the fields at sunset. tree →
• Ma and Pa sat by the fire and told stories. tree →
• The job pays 25,000 pounds p.a. tree →
• Air pressure is measured in pascals, written Pa. tree →
• The weather map showed 1010 hPa over the city. tree →
• The head teacher spoke over the PA system. tree →
• We visited an old Maori pa on a hill. tree →
• Her PA arranges all her meetings. tree →
• You see yo' pa pull his shut off? tree →

Note

Pa (dad) is informal and old-fashioned; most children today say dad or daddy. Ma and Pa go together. Pa (pascal) has a capital P because the unit is named after Blaise Pascal. p.a. is usually written with dots and lower-case letters. Do not mix up pa with par (as in golf) or pah (a sound of disgust).

In Jewish tradition

Not the word for father here. It is the short form of Pennsylvania in a publisher's address. In the primary lessons: In old stories, such as books about farm families in America, children call their parents Ma and Pa. In science and weather, Pa (pascal) measures pressure; hPa (hectopascal) is used on weather maps. In everyday life the PA announces things at school or the station. In New Zealand history lessons a pa is a fortified Maori settlement.

Examples

• Mordell, 4137 Leidy Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• Published by the Dropsie College Philadelphia Pa. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Pa (dad) is informal and old-fashioned; most children today say dad or daddy. Ma and Pa go together. Pa (pascal) has a capital P because the unit is named after Blaise Pascal. p.a. is usually written with dots and lower-case letters. Do not mix up pa with par (as in golf) or pah (a sound of disgust).