n. & v.
n. 1 a piece of material or metal etc. used to mend a hole or as reinforcement. 2 a pad worn to protect an injured eye. 3 a dressing etc. put over a wound. 4 a large or irregular distinguishable area on a surface. 5 colloq. a period of time in terms of its characteristic quality (went through a bad patch). 6 a piece of ground. 7 colloq. an area assigned to or patrolled by an authorized person, esp. a police officer. 8 a number of plants growing in one place (brier patch). 9 a scrap or remnant. 10 a temporary electrical connection. 11 hist. a small disc etc. of black silk attached to the face, worn esp. by women in the 17th-18th c. for adornment. 12 Mil. a piece of cloth on a uniform as the badge of a unit.
v.tr. 1 (often foll. by up) repair with a patch or patches; put a patch or patches on. 2 (of material) serve as a patch to. 3 (often foll. by up) put together, esp. hastily or in a makeshift way. 4 (foll. by up) settle (a quarrel etc.) esp. hastily or temporarily. not a patch on colloq. greatly inferior to. patch cord an insulated lead with a plug at each end, for use with a patchboard. patch panel = PATCHBOARD. patch pocket one made of a piece of cloth sewn on a garment. patch test a test for allergy by applying to the skin patches containing allergenic substances. patcher n.
[ ME pacche, patche, perh. var. of peche f. OF pieche dial. var. of piece PIECE ]