Patter

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈpætÉ™/
• Rhymes: -ætÉ™(r)

1610s, pat + -er("frequentative (indicating repeated action)"),

Online Etymology Dictionary

of (onomatopoeia) origin.

Full definition of patter

Noun

1. The soft sound of feet walking on a hard surface.I could hear the patter of mice running about in the dark.
• 1907, w, The Dust of Conflict Chapter 7, The patter of feet, and clatter of strap and swivel, seemed to swell into a bewildering din, but they were almost upon the fielato offices, where the carretera entered the town, before a rifle flashed.

Derived terms

• pitter-patter

Verb

1. To make irregularly repeated sounds of low-to-moderate magnitude and lower-than-average pitch.The bullets pattered into the log-cabin walls.
• ThomsonThe stealing shower is scarce to patter heard.
2. To spatter; to sprinkle.
• J. R. DrakePatter the water about the boat.

Circa 1400, from paternoster ("the Lord's prayer"),

possibly influenced by imitative sense (above), Latin pater ("father"), from Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr.

Noun attested 1758, originally referring to the cant of thieves and beggers.

Noun

1. Glib and rapid speech, such as from an auctioneer, or banter during a sports event.

Verb

1. To speak in such a way – glibly and rapidly, such as from an auctioneer, or when bantering during a sports event.
• MayhewI've gone out and pattered to get money.

Derived terms

• Glasgow patter

pat + -er("agent")

Noun

1. One who pats.