patter

Etymology 1

1610s, pat + -er (“frequentative (indicating repeated action)”), of (onomatopoeia) origin.

noun

1. A soft repeated sound, as of rain falling, or feet walking on a hard surface.
   I could hear the patter of mice running about in the dark.
   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. 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 7, in The Dust of Conflict

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.
   The stealing shower […] 'Tis scarce to patter heard.
2. To spatter; to sprinkle.
   1819 (published in 1835) Joseph Rodman Drake, s:The Culprit Fay Patter the water about the boat.

Etymology 2

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 a sports commentator.
   This particularly rapid, unintelligible patter isn't generally heard, and if it is it doesn't matter. 1887, Gilbert and Sullivan (lyrics and music), “My Eyes Are Fully Open”, in Ruddigore
   Dad, I want to be a jock. All a jock needs is some hep patter and a real gone image. Now, they just don't teach that jazz in college. 1975, Garry Marshall et al., “Richie's Flip Side”, in Happy Days, season 2, episode 21, spoken by Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard)
   As a young man he [Beppe Grillo] performed with a guitar in local bars, but fans preferred his pre-show patter, and he evolved into a successful stand-up comedian. 2017, Jamie Bartlett, chapter 5, in Radicals, William Heinemann

verb

1. To speak glibly and rapidly, as does an auctioneer or a sports commentator.
2. (intransitive, obsolete) To repeat the Lord's Prayer.
3. (intransitive, obsolete) To pray.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To repeat hurriedly; to mutter.

Etymology 3

pat + -er (“agent”)

noun

1. One who pats.
   I used to hate head patters, and I have realized that all children dislike being patted on the head. 1981, Jackie Cooper, Richard Kleiner, Please Shoot Dog, page 50