/ ˈpætə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ sing. ] the sound that is made by sth repeatedly hitting a surface quickly and lightly :
the patter of feet / footsteps
the patter of rain on the roof
2.
[ U , sing. ] fast continuous talk by sb who is trying to sell you sth or entertain you :
sales patter
•
IDIOMS
- the patter of tiny feet
■ verb [ v + adv. / prep. ]
1.
to make quick, light sounds as a surface is being hit several times :
Rain pattered against the window.
2.
to walk with light steps in a particular direction :
I heard her feet pattering along the corridor.
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun sense 1 early 17th cent.: frequentative of pat (verb).
noun sense 2 late Middle English (as a verb in the sense recite (a prayer, charm, etc.) rapidly ): from paternoster , the Lord's Prayer, especially in Latin. The current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.