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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Patter \Pat"ter\, v. t.
1. To spatter; to sprinkle. [R.] "And patter the water about
the boat." --J. R. Drake.
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2. [See {Patter}, v. i., 2.] To mutter; as prayers.
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[The hooded clouds] patter their doleful prayers.
--Longfellow.
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{To patter flash}, to talk in thieves' cant. [Slang]
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Patter \Pat"ter\, n.
1. A quick succession of slight sounds; as, the patter of
rain; the patter of little feet.
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2. Glib and rapid speech; a voluble harangue.
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3. The cant of a class; patois; as, thieves's patter;
gypsies' patter.
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4. 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.]
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]


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.
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The stealing shower is scarce to patter heard.
--Thomson.
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2. To mutter; to mumble; as, to patter with the lips.
--Tyndale. [In this sense, and in the following, perh.
from paternoster.]
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3. To talk glibly; to chatter; to harangue. [Colloq.]
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I've gone out and pattered to get money. --Mayhew.
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