patter

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.”

2. (countable, uncountable)Glib and rapid speech, such as from an auctioneer, a sports commentator, or a salesperson with a slick style of selling.

   “sales patter”

   “This particularly rapid, unintelligible patter isn't generally heard, and if it is it doesn't matter.”

   “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.”

   ““Did you say the bodies are getting mixed together with the toxic waste?” [sigh] “Now I got to look at the brochure. Yeah, that's what it says.” “By the way, you're really gonna have to work on your patter a little bit.””

   “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.”

3. One who pats.

   “I used to hate head patters, and I have realized that all children dislike being patted on the head.”

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, The Culprit Fay Patter the water about the boat.”

3. To speak glibly and rapidly, as does an auctioneer or a sports commentator.

   “He showed a little of the pride of art in describing the management of his business, but he would not hear that he “pattered:” he talked to his customers, he declared, as any draper, who knew his business well, might talk to his.”

4. (intransitive, obsolete)To repeat the Lord's Prayer.
5. (intransitive, obsolete)To pray.
6. (obsolete, transitive)To repeat hurriedly; to mutter.