patter

¹

[pat-er]

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.

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

[pat-er]

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.

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

[pat-er]

noun

1. a person or thing that pats. pat.

patter

¹

/ ˈpætə /

noun

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

2. quick idle talk; chatter

3. the jargon of a particular group; lingo

verb

1. (intr) to speak glibly and rapidly

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

patter

²

/ 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

noun

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

   the patter of mice

Other Word Forms

• patterer noun
• paterist noun

Word History and Origins

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”; pater

Origin of patter³

pat ¹ + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of patter¹

C14: from Latin pater in Pater Noster Our Father

Origin of patter²

C17: from _pat ¹

Example Sentences

The patter of the street and the patter of the studio share a relentless optimism for the big break.

From Los Angeles Times

He was 27, an aspiring cop with a Hollywood apartment and a glib patter that reminded people of a used-car salesman.

From Los Angeles Times

We banged out meals for a while, Lydia amusing us with her usual patter, Tommy dunking clams and shrimp into hot grease, the usual ebb and flow of a busy kitchen.

From Salon

In 1964, he got a job at the R&B station KSOL, where he brought the Beatles and Rolling Stones into the station’s playlist and showed off his slick patter.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump employed his usual patter to the proceedings, touting American-made weapons as “the best military equipment in the world, by far.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chatter 
• monologue 
• spiel