Hypertext Webster Gateway: "patter"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Patter \Pat"ter\, n.
The language or oratory of a street peddler, conjurer, or the
like, hence, glib talk; a voluble harangue; mere talk;
chatter; also, specif., rapid speech, esp. as sometimes
introduced in songs. [Cant or Colloq.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
The stealing shower is scarce to patter heard.
--Thomson.
2. To mutter; to mumble; as, to patter with the lips.
--Tyndale. [In this sense, and in the following, perh.
from paternoster.]
3. To talk glibly; to chatter; to harangue. [Colloq.]
I've gone out and pattered to get money. --Mayhew.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Patter \Pat"ter\, v. t.
1. To spatter; to sprinkle. [R.] ``And patter the water about
the boat.'' --J. R. Drake.
2. [See {Patter}, v. i., 2.] To mutter; as prayers.
[The hooded clouds] patter their doleful prayers.
--Longfellow.
{To patter flash}, to talk in thieves' cant. [Slang]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Patter \Pat"ter\, n.
1. A quick succession of slight sounds; as, the patter of
rain; the patter of little feet.
2. Glib and rapid speech; a voluble harangue.
3. The cant of a class; patois; as, thieves's patter;
gypsies' patter.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
patter
n 1: plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
[syn: {spiel}, {line of gab}]
2: a quick succession of light rapid sounds; "the patter of
mice"; "the patter of tiny feet"
v 1: rain gently; "It has only sprinkled, but the roads are
slick." [syn: {sprinkle}, {spit}, {spatter}, {pitter-patter}]
2: make light, rapid and repeated sounds, as of rain [syn: {pitter-patter}]
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