Pateixa

Pateixa is a common Portuguese word that generally refers to a snail or slug. The term can be used colloquially to describe these gastropod mollusks in their various forms. In a culinary context, "pateixa" can sometimes refer to dishes made with snails, a traditional food in certain Portuguese regions. However, the primary meaning remains the animal itself. The word's usage is widespread across Portugal and can be encountered in everyday conversation. The exact etymology is debated, but it is thought to derive from an ancient root. Beyond its literal meaning, the term might occasionally be used metaphorically to describe something slow or sluggish, although this is less common than its direct reference to the mollusk.