patter
PAT-er
/ˈpæt.ər/
Rapid, entertaining talk used by a performer to engage the audience and distract them.
Specifically refers to the scripted or improvised speech of magicians, comedians, or salespersons designed to keep attention moving.
The story behind the word. From the rapid, repetitive reciting of the Paternoster (the Lord's Prayer) by priests or beggars in medieval times. It evolved to mean the fast, entertaining talk used by street sellers and magicians to distract or engage.
Word relationships
- chatter: Chatter is idle, often meaningless talk, while patter is highly structured and purposeful performance speech.
- silence: Silence is the complete absence of speech, which some magicians use for dramatic effect instead of patter.
Commonly confused with
- monologue: A monologue is a long speech by one actor, while patter is fast-paced, interactive, and designed to distract.
Word family
- pattering (noun): The act of speaking rapidly.
Collocations
- magician's patter
- rapid patter
- witty patter
Example sentences
- "His rapid patter kept the audience laughing while he prepared his next illusion." An analysis of a magician's stage presence.
Memory hook
The patter of the magician's voice sounds like the patter of raindrops on a roof—fast and continuous. Fast-paced talk.
When not to use
Do not use to describe serious, formal speeches or academic lectures.
Fun facts
- In the 19th century, 'patterers' were street sellers who ran around London shouting out headlines to sell cheap newspapers.
Related words
Explore more words
presentation, voluble, oratory, incantation, banter, interject
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.