patter

patter
patter1
/pat"euhr/, v.i.
1. to make a rapid succession of light taps: Raindrops patter on the windowpane.
2. to move or walk lightly or quickly: The child pattered across the room.
v.t.
3. to cause to patter.
4. to spatter with something.
n.
5. a rapid succession of light tapping sounds: the steady patter of rain on the tin roof.
6. the act of pattering.
[1605-15; PAT1 + -ER6]
Syn. 1. pat, beat, rap pelt.
patter2
—patterer, paterist, n.
/pat"euhr/, n.
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.
v.i.
5. to talk glibly or rapidly, esp. with little regard to meaning; chatter.
6. to repeat a paternoster or other prayer in a rapid, mechanical way.
v.t.
7. to recite or repeat (prayers, verses, etc.) in a rapid, mechanical way.
8. to repeat or say rapidly or glibly.
[1375-1425; ME pateren to say the paternoster, pray mechanically; see PATER]
patter3
/pat"euhr/, n.
a person or thing that pats.
[PAT1 + -ER1]

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Universalium. 2010.

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