patter

patter
I
pat•ter
[[t]ˈpæt ər[/t]] v. i.
1) to make a rapid succession of light taps
2) to move or walk lightly or quickly
3) to cause to patter
4) to spatter with something
5) a rapid succession of light tapping sounds
6) the act of pattering
Etymology: 1605–15; pat I+ -er VI II
pat•ter
[[t]ˈpæt ər[/t]] n. v.
1) glib and rapid talk used to attract attention, entertain, etc
2) meaningless, rapid talk; chatter
3) amusing lines delivered rapidly by an entertainer or performer
4) the jargon or cant of any class, group, etc
5) to talk glibly or rapidly, esp. with little regard to meaning; chatter
6) to repeat or say rapidly or glibly
Etymology: 1375–1425; MEpaterento say the paternoster, pray mechanically; see pater III
pat•ter
[[t]ˈpæt ər[/t]] n.
a person or thing that pats

From formal English to slang. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Patter — is a glib rapid speech, that accompanies and complements some actions, e.g., of an auctioneer, salesperson, caller (dancing), or comedian. It was a slang word for the secret or cant language used by beggars, thieves, Roma people, etc., hence the… …   Wikipedia

  • Patter — Pat ter, v. t. 1. To spatter; to sprinkle. [R.] And patter the water about the boat. J. R. Drake. [1913 Webster] 2. [See {Patter}, v. i., 2.] To mutter; as prayers. [1913 Webster] [The hooded clouds] patter their doleful prayers. Longfellow.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Patter — Pat ter, n. 1. A quick succession of slight sounds; as, the patter of rain; the patter of little feet. [1913 Webster] 2. Glib and rapid speech; a voluble harangue. [1913 Webster] 3. The cant of a class; patois; as, thieves s patter; gypsies… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • patter — [n1/v1] light walk; soft beat chatter, pad, pat, pelt, pitapat*, pitter patter*, rat a tat*, rattle, scurry, scuttle, skip, tap, tiptoe, trip; concepts 65,149 patter [n2] casual talk argot, cant, chatter, dialect, jabber*, jargon, jive*, line*,… …   New thesaurus

  • patter — patter1 [pat′ər] vi. [freq. of PAT2] 1. to make a patter 2. to run or move along so as to make a patter n. a series of quick, light taps [the patter of rain on leaves] patter2 [pat′ər] vt., vi …   English World dictionary

  • Patter — Pat ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Pattered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pattering}.] [Freq. of pat to strike gently.] 1. To strike with a quick succession of slight, sharp sounds; as, pattering rain or hail; pattering feet. [1913 Webster] The stealing shower… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • patter — ● patter verbe intransitif (de patte) En parlant des animaux de chasse, emporter à ses pieds la terre mouillée. patter [pate] v. intr. ÉTYM. 1655; de patte. ❖ ♦ Chasse. Emporter de la terre avec ses pattes en laissant des traces, en parlant du… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • patter — Ⅰ. patter [1] ► VERB 1) make a repeated light tapping sound. 2) run with quick light steps. ► NOUN ▪ a repeated light tapping sound. ORIGIN from PAT(Cf. ↑pat) …   English terms dictionary

  • Patter — (Patterle), Schnur angereihter Münzen od. Perlen …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • patter — vb chatter, prate, *chat, gab, prattle, babble, gabble, jabber, gibber …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • patter — pat|ter1 [ pætər ] verb intransitive 1. ) patter against/on etc to make a series of short quiet sounds by falling onto or hitting a surface: Rain pattered against the window. 2. ) patter over/along etc to walk or run somewhere, making a series of …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”