patter

¹ American  

[pat-er] / ˈpæt ər /

verb (used without object)

1. to make a rapid succession of light taps.

   Raindrops patter on the windowpane.

   Synonyms:

   pelt, rap, beat, pat

2. to move or walk lightly or quickly.

   The child pattered across the room.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to patter.

2. to spatter with something.

noun

1. a rapid succession of light tapping sounds.

   the steady patter of rain on the tin roof.

2. the act of pattering.

patter ² American  

[pat-er] / ˈpæt ər /

noun

1. meaningless, rapid talk; mere chatter; gabble.

2. the usually glib and rapid speech or talk used by a magician while performing, a barker at a circus or sideshow, a comedian or other entertainer, a vendor of questionable wares, or the like; stylized or rehearsed talk used to attract attention, entertain, etc.

3. amusing lines delivered rapidly by an entertainer or performer, as in a comic routine or in a song.

4. the jargon or cant of any class, group, etc.

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verb (used without object)

1. to talk glibly or rapidly, especially with little regard to meaning; chatter.

2. to repeat a paternoster or other prayer in a rapid, mechanical way.

verb (used with object)

1. to recite or repeat (prayers, verses, etc.) in a rapid, mechanical way.

2. to repeat or say rapidly or glibly.

patter ³ American  

[pat-er] / ˈpæt ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that pats.

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patter ¹ British  

/ ˈpætə /

noun

1. the glib rapid speech of comedians, salesmen, etc

2. quick idle talk; chatter

3. the jargon of a particular group; lingo

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verb

1. (intr) to speak glibly and rapidly

2. to repeat (prayers) in a mechanical or perfunctory manner

patter ² British  

/ ˈpætə /

verb

1. (intr) to walk or move with quick soft steps

2. to strike with or make a quick succession of light tapping sounds

3. rare (tr) to cause to patter

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noun

1. a quick succession of light tapping sounds, as of feet

   the patter of mice

Other Word Forms

• paterist
  noun
• patterer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of patter¹

First recorded in 1605–15; pat ¹ + -er ⁶

Origin of patter²

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English pateren “to say the paternoster, pray quickly and mechanically”; see pater

Origin of patter³

pat ¹ + -er ¹

Explanation

When something patters, it makes a light, rhythmic, tapping sound. On a rainy night, you might love lying in bed listening to the rain patter on the roof. You can describe the way rain patters, or the way children's feet patter down the hallway on Christmas morning. The light, quick sound itself is also a patter: "Listen to the patter of sleet on the window!" Informally, a salesman's pitch can be called patter as well, from an older meaning, "talk rapidly," from pater, "mumble prayers rapidly." The tapping kind of patter has a different root, which it shares with pat.

Example Sentences

On Wednesday, March 4, passengers awoke to find the daily newsletter, Princess Patter, announcing “some of the day’s onboard highlights,” including: A speech about dolphins in the Princess Theater.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2020

Van Patter just wants the rubble removed - before his child starts toddling around.

From Washington Times • Oct. 13, 2018

When the Panthers needed someone to keep their finances, David recommended a white friend named Betty Van Patter.

From New York Times • Jul. 22, 2017

In late 1974, he asked a woman from Ramparts named Betty Van Patter to be a bookkeeper for a school run by the Panthers in Oakland.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 22, 2016

Patter of hounds’ feet, men’s feet, woke the boar as they came up—and from his woody ambush with razor back bristling and raging eyes he trotted and stood at bay.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

Related Words

• chatter
• monologue
• spiel