pitapat

American  

[pit-uh-pat] / ˈpɪt əˌpæt /

adverb

1. with a quick succession of beats or taps.

   Her heart beat pitapat with excitement.

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noun

1. the movement or the sound of something going pitapat.

   the pitapat of hail on a roof.

verb (used without object)

pitapatted, pitapatting

1. to go pitapat.

pitapat British  

/ ˌpɪtəˈpæt /

adverb

1. with quick light taps or beats

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verb

1. (intr) to make quick light taps or beats

noun

1. such taps or beats

Etymology

Origin of pitapat

First recorded in 1515–25; imitative gradational compound

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pitapat pitapatted

Awguan, top horse and foreman of Stanley's mount, swung pitapat down the winding pass at a brisk fox trot.

From Copper Streak Trail by Eugene Manlove Rhodes

Roll -- N. roll &c. v.; drumming &c. v.; berloque†, bombination†, rumbling; tattoo, drumroll; dingdong; tantara†; rataplan†; whirr; ratatat, ratatat-tat; rubadub; pitapat; quaver, clutter, charivari†, racket; cuckoo; repetition &c.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

And their hearts go pitapat When they hear the soldiers come With a r-r-rat-tat-tat And a tum-titty-um-tum-tum!

From Love-Songs of Childhood by Eugene Field

"Three times and out," he whispered as the boys' hearts went pitapat.

From A Son of the City A Story of Boy Life by Herman Gastrell Seely

Suddenly he fancied he heard feet outside going pitapat.

From Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales Second Series by H. C. (Hans Christian) Andersen

Pitt's panthers pitapatted round Nebraska; the line poked holes, Fullback Parkinson plunged twice for touchdowns.

From Time Magazine Archive

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