patter

Meanings

1. A soft repeated sound, as of rain falling, or feet walking on a hard surface.

1. To make irregularly repeated sounds of low-to-moderate magnitude and lower-than-average pitch.
2. To spatter; to sprinkle.

1. Glib and rapid speech, such as from an auctioneer, a sports commentator, or a salesperson with a slick style of selling.

1. To speak glibly and rapidly, as does an auctioneer or a sports commentator.
2. To repeat the Lord's Prayer.
3. To pray.
4. To repeat hurriedly; to mutter.

1. One who pats.

Etymology

1610s, pat + -er (“frequentative (indicating repeated action)”), of (onomatopoeia) origin.