Plate

See River Plate.

Plate

1. The River Plate.
   • 1832, The Edinburgh Encyclopædia conducted by David Brewster, volume 17, page 288:

     […] ; but the tributary waters of the Plate issuing from the eastern and western plateaus, flow towards each other, unite in the heart of the continent, and continue over the central plain to the Atlantic.

   • 1947, Betty de Sherbinin, The River Plate republics, page 221:

     To the southwest 235 miles of Uruguay's coast meet the muddy waters of the Plate. The tide plays tricks with the sediment-laden discharge of the great river and drives it back onto the coast, […]

   • 2002, Andrew Graham-Yooll, Imperial Skirmishes: War and Gunboat Diplomacy in Latin America, page 6:

     A series of lucky shots from the small fort at Colonia had set fire to the Lord Clive, which was unable to manoeuvre in the shallow waters of the Plate. It did not stop burning till the flames reached the water line.

   • 2004, Dudley Pope, The Battle Of The River Plate: The Hunt For The German Pocket Battleship Graf Spree, page 184: translating a telegram sent in 1939 to the German Foreign Office:

     It would be preferable in view of the shortage of ammunition to blow her up in the shallow waters of the Plate and to have the crew interned.

• -petal, Patel, leapt, lepta, palet, pelta, petal, pleat, tepal

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈpla.teː/, [ˈpɫ̪ät̪eː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈpla.te/, [ˈpläːt̪e]

Platē f sg (genitive Platēs); first declension

1. An island off the coast of Troad

First-declension noun (Greek-type), singular only.

• Plate in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.