patiný

Patiný is a term encountered in some Slavic-language contexts as an adjective related to patina. It describes surfaces or finishes that have developed a patina—an aged, altered layer resulting from chemical change, weathering, or deliberate finishing. The form patiný is not uniformly standardized; related spellings and variants occur in neighboring languages, including patinový in Czech and Slovak and patynowy in Polish. In practice, patiný is used mainly in fields such as art conservation, archaeology, materials science, and design to describe materials whose appearance has been changed by patination, yielding tones, textures, or iridescence associated with aging or treatment. It can be applied to metals (patiný kov), stone (patiný kámen), wood, or ceramics when the patina is a notable feature of their surface.

In English-language contexts, the term is rarely used; when it appears, it is usually as a loanword from a Slavic-language source or as part of a technical phrase. The broader concept is patina, the thin layer that forms on surfaces over time or by chemical treatment, valued for its aesthetic and protective qualities. The term patiný thus sits within a family of words describing patinated surfaces, with nuances depending on the specific Slavic language and field of study. See also patina, patinated, patination.