patter

patter
I. verb Etymology: Middle English patren, from paternoster Date: 14th century transitive verb to say or speak in a rapid or mechanical manner intransitive verb 1. to recite prayers (as paternosters) rapidly or mechanically 2. to talk glibly and volubly 3. to speak or sing rapid-fire words in a theatrical performance • patterer noun II. noun Date: 1758 1. a specialized lingo ; cant; especially the jargon of criminals (as thieves) 2. the spiel of a street hawker or of a circus barker 3. empty chattering talk 4. a. (1) the rapid-fire talk of a comedian (2) the talk with which an entertainer accompanies a routine b. the words of a comic song or of a rapidly spoken usually humorous monologue introduced into such a song III. verb Etymology: frequentative of 3pat Date: 1611 intransitive verb 1. to strike or pat rapidly and repeatedly 2. to run with quick light-sounding steps transitive verb to cause to patter IV. noun Date: 1844 a quick succession of light sounds or pats

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Patter — is a glib rapid speech, that accompanies and complements some actions, e.g., of an auctioneer, salesperson, caller (dancing), or comedian. It was a slang word for the secret or cant language used by beggars, thieves, Roma people, etc., hence the… …   Wikipedia

  • Patter — Pat ter, v. t. 1. To spatter; to sprinkle. [R.] And patter the water about the boat. J. R. Drake. [1913 Webster] 2. [See {Patter}, v. i., 2.] To mutter; as prayers. [1913 Webster] [The hooded clouds] patter their doleful prayers. Longfellow.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Patter — Pat ter, n. 1. A quick succession of slight sounds; as, the patter of rain; the patter of little feet. [1913 Webster] 2. Glib and rapid speech; a voluble harangue. [1913 Webster] 3. The cant of a class; patois; as, thieves s patter; gypsies… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • patter — [n1/v1] light walk; soft beat chatter, pad, pat, pelt, pitapat*, pitter patter*, rat a tat*, rattle, scurry, scuttle, skip, tap, tiptoe, trip; concepts 65,149 patter [n2] casual talk argot, cant, chatter, dialect, jabber*, jargon, jive*, line*,… …   New thesaurus

  • patter — patter1 [pat′ər] vi. [freq. of PAT2] 1. to make a patter 2. to run or move along so as to make a patter n. a series of quick, light taps [the patter of rain on leaves] patter2 [pat′ər] vt., vi …   English World dictionary

  • Patter — Pat ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Pattered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pattering}.] [Freq. of pat to strike gently.] 1. To strike with a quick succession of slight, sharp sounds; as, pattering rain or hail; pattering feet. [1913 Webster] The stealing shower… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • patter — ● patter verbe intransitif (de patte) En parlant des animaux de chasse, emporter à ses pieds la terre mouillée. patter [pate] v. intr. ÉTYM. 1655; de patte. ❖ ♦ Chasse. Emporter de la terre avec ses pattes en laissant des traces, en parlant du… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • patter — Ⅰ. patter [1] ► VERB 1) make a repeated light tapping sound. 2) run with quick light steps. ► NOUN ▪ a repeated light tapping sound. ORIGIN from PAT(Cf. ↑pat) …   English terms dictionary

  • Patter — (Patterle), Schnur angereihter Münzen od. Perlen …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • patter — vb chatter, prate, *chat, gab, prattle, babble, gabble, jabber, gibber …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • patter — pat|ter1 [ pætər ] verb intransitive 1. ) patter against/on etc to make a series of short quiet sounds by falling onto or hitting a surface: Rain pattered against the window. 2. ) patter over/along etc to walk or run somewhere, making a series of …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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