pääty

Pääty is a Finnish noun with several related meanings centered on the idea of an end or termination. In general use, pääty denotes the far end, tip, or extremity of an object, such as the end of a table, a desk, or a piece of equipment. It can also indicate the final part of a process or sequence, for instance the “pääty” of a road or of a project, meaning its conclusion or the ending stage.

In architecture, pääty refers specifically to the end wall of a building, especially the wall at the end of a long facade. This end wall may be visually distinct from the main facade, sometimes featuring different windows or ornamentation. The term is commonly used when discussing older row houses or churches where the end walls are prominent.

In furniture making, pääty describes an end piece or cap, such as the headboard of a bed or end panels on cabinets, desks, or benches. It designates parts at the extremities of a piece of furniture.

Etymology: from pää meaning “head” or “top” combined with the suffix -ty, forming a noun that denotes an end or extremity.

Pääty is widely used across Finnish language contexts, with meaning anchored in the concept of an outermost or terminal part. Context usually clarifies whether the reference is architectural, furniture-related, or metaphorical.