"make quick taps," 1610s, frequentative of pat (v.). Related: Pattered; pattering. As a noun in this sense from 1844.
patter (v.2)
"talk rapidly," c. 1400, from pater "mumble prayers rapidly" (c. 1300), shortened form of paternoster. Perhaps influenced by patter (v.1). The related noun is first recorded 1758, originally "cant language of thieves and beggars." Compare Devil's paternoster (1520s) "a grumbling and mumbling to oneself."
PATTERING. The maundering or pert replies of servants; also talk or palaver in order to amuse one intended to be cheated. [Grose, "Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," 2nd edition. 1788]
权威例句
1. Fran began her automatic patter about how Jon had been unavoidably detained.
弗兰开始不由自主地唠叨起乔恩是怎样无可避免地被扣留的。
2. There's no doubt women found him charming. It must have been his patter because he's certainly not at all good-looking.
女人们无疑会觉得他很迷人。这肯定是因为他的顺口溜,因为他长得一点儿都不好看。
3. She's not particularly interested in having children, but her husband longs for the patter of tiny feet.
她并不特别想要孩子, 可是她的丈夫巴不得早点有个小宝宝.
4. She can't wait for the patter of tiny feet.
她巴不得婴儿早日出生.
5. He heard the patter of Libby's feet approach the phone.