patter
pronunciation
How to pronounce patter in British English:
UK [ˈpætə(r)]
How to pronounce patter in American English:
US [ˈpætɚ]
-
- Noun:
- plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
- a quick succession of light rapid sounds
-
- Verb:
- rain gently
- make light, rapid and repeated sounds
Word Origin
- patter (v.1)
- "make quick taps," 1610s, frequentative of pat (v.). Related: Pattered; pattering. As a noun in this sense from 1844.
- patter (v.2)
- "talk rapidly," c. 1400, from pater "mumble prayers rapidly" (c. 1300), shortened form of paternoster. Perhaps influenced by patter (v.1). The related noun is first recorded 1758, originally "cant language of thieves and beggars." Compare Devil's paternoster (1520s) "a grumbling and mumbling to oneself." PATTERING. The maundering or pert replies of servants; also talk or palaver in order to amuse one intended to be cheated. [Grose, "Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," 2nd edition. 1788]
Example
- 1. The cricket 's chirp and the patter of rain come to me through the dark , like the rustle of dreams from my past youth .
- 2. The cricker ` s chirp and the patter of rain come to me through the dark , like the rustle of dream form my past youth .
- 3. Despite the patter of the rain , a man heard the piteous cries of a kitten .
- 4. We might hear the patter of tiny feet all over again .
- 5. George is also giving you here the patter that he used .