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.
I've gone out and pattered to get money. Mayhew.