I. ˈpach noun
Etymology: Middle English pacche
Date: 14th century
1. : a piece of material used to mend or cover a hole or a weak spot
2. : a tiny piece of black silk or court plaster worn on the face or neck especially by women to hide a blemish or to heighten beauty
3.
a. : a piece of material (as adhesive plaster) used medically usually to cover a wound
b. : a usually disk-shaped piece of material that is worn on the skin and contains a substance (as a drug) that is absorbed at a constant rate through the skin into the bloodstream
a nicotine patch
c. : a shield worn over the socket of an injured or missing eye
4.
a. : a small piece : scrap
b. : a part or area distinct from that about it
cabbage patch
c. : a period of time : spell
was going through a rough patch
5. : someone or something equal or comparable — usually used in negative constructions
the new chairman isn't a patch on his predecessor
6. : a piece of cloth sewed on a garment as an ornament or insignia ; especially : shoulder patch
7. : a temporary connection in a communication system (as a telephone hookup)
8. : a minor correction or modification in a computer program
II. transitive verb
Date: 15th century
1. : to mend, cover, or fill up a hole or weak spot in
2. : to provide with a patch
3.
a. : to make of patches or fragments
b. : to mend or put together especially in hasty or shabby fashion — usually used with up
c. : to apply a patch to (a computer program)
4.
a. : to connect (as circuits) by a patch cord
b. : to connect (as a person or message) to a communication system especially temporarily
they patch ed him into the conference call
Synonyms: see mend
III. noun
Etymology: perhaps by folk etymology from Italian dialect paccio
Date: 1549
: fool , dolt