patter song

American  

noun

1. a comic song depending for its humorous effect on rapid enunciation of the words, occurring most commonly in comic opera and operetta.

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patter song British  

noun

1. music a humorous song or aria, the text of which consists of rapid strings of words

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Etymology

Origin of patter song

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

patter song

Mr. Brady pulled off Don Profondo’s patter song “Medaglie incomparabili,” a tongue-twisting list of precious objects, as an auctioneer’s spiel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2025

Oliver brings in Matthew Broderick, playing himself with exaggerated smarm, who effortlessly breezes through the patter song.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2024

Evelyn's is a patter song and it’s very ga-ga-ga-ga-ga, because her brain is sort of everywhere.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2023

Blame is in abundance on a late-October afternoon at Signature Theatre’s Shirlington space as the cast of “Into the Woods” rehearses the Act 2 patter song “Your Fault.”

From Washington Post ● Nov. 22, 2022

Mr. Rogan masters “The Speed Test,” a quick-paced patter song with music borrowed from Arthur Sullivan and some lyrics from W. S. Gilbert, though most of the words, about stenography, are by Dick Scanlan.

From New York Times ● Jun. 4, 2016