\Pat"ter\, n.
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.]

\Pat"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Pattered}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Pattering}.] [Freq. of pat to strike gently.]
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.
   --Tyndale. [In this sense, and in the following, perh.
   from paternoster.]
3. To talk glibly; to chatter; to harangue. [Colloq.]
         I've gone out and pattered to get money. --Mayhew.

\Pat"ter\, v. t.
1. To spatter; to sprinkle. [R.] ``And patter the water about
   the boat.'' --J. R. Drake.
2. [See {Patter}, v. i., 2.] To mutter; as prayers.
         [The hooded clouds] patter their doleful prayers.
                                               --Longfellow.
{To patter flash}, to talk in thieves' cant. [Slang]

\Pat"ter\, n.
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.