Patter — Defs

01 v. i. To strike with a quick succession of slight, sharp sounds; as, pattering rain or hail; pattering feet.

imp. & p. p. Pattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Pattering

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.
3.
To talk glibly; to chatter; to harangue.[Colloq.]
“I've gone out and pattered to get money.” — Mayhew.

02 v. t. To spatter; to sprinkle.

1.
To spatter; to sprinkle.[R.]
2.
To mutter; as prayers.
“[The hooded clouds] patter their doleful prayers.” — Longfellow.

Phrases & compounds

To patter flash — to talk in thieves' cant.

03 n. A quick succession of slight sounds; as, the patter of rain; the patter of little feet.

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.
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.]