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 1864. Derby Day, 155. She had finished the patter she had learnt by heart.

1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, ii. 244. Well she could do the French's patter, as she'd been there afore, when she was living on the 'square.'

1880. Sims, Three Brass Balls, xvii. It is thieves' patter, but someone in the crowd understands it well enough and answers him.

1883. Daily News, 26 March, 2, 4. A patter song was twice redemanded.

1889. Answers, 11 May, 374. Beggars who cannot read are being taught hymns or doleful songs, patter as it is called professionally.

1891. Newman, Scamping Tricks, 61. Pay me and I'll patter pretty; but no pay, no patter is my motto.

1897. Sporting Times, 13 Mar., I, 3. She did it in a sort of "it's of no consequence" way that fairly amazed the learned counsel who was pattering on her behalf.

2. Verb. (common).—1. See subs. 2. (Australian).—To eat.

1833. C. Sturt, Southern Australia, II., vii. 223. He himself did not patter any of it.

1881. Grant, Bush Life, I. 236. 'You patter potehuni.' ' Yohi,' said John, doubtful how his stomach will agree with the strange meat.

Patteran, subs. (vagrants').—See quots.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v. Patteran, a gipsy trail, made by throwing down a handful of grass.

1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, I. xi. Maybe it's the gipsy's patteran they mean.

Patter-cove. See Patrico.

Patter-crib, subs. (thieves').—A lodging-house or inn frequented by thieves; a flash-panny (q.v.).

Paul. To go to Paul's (or Westminster) for a wife, verb. phr. (old colloquial).—To go whoring: to molrow (q.v.). [Halliwell: Old St. Paul's was in former times a favorite resort for purposes of business, amusement, lounging, or assignations; bills were fixed up there, servants hired, and a variety of matters performed wholly inconsistent with the sacred nature of the edifice.] Hence Paul's-walkers = loungers; as well-known as Paul's = notorious.

1598. Shakspeare, 1 Henry IV., ii. 4. This oily rascal is known as well as Paul's.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., i. 2, 58. I bought him in Paul's, and he'll buy me a horse in Smithfield: an I could get me but a wife in the stews, I were manned, horsed, and wived.

1670. Ray, Proverbs, 254. Who goes to Westminster for a wife, to St. Paul's for a man, and to Smithfield for a horse, may meet with a whore, a knave, and a jade.

1807. Moser, European Magazine, July. The young gallants used to meet at the central point, St. Paul's; and from this circumstance obtained the appellation of Paul's walkers, as we now say Bond Street Loungers.

See also Old; Peter; Pigeon.

Paul Pry, subs. phr. (colloquial).—An inquisitive man. [From Poole's comedy.]

1825. Poole, Paul Pry [Title].

1864. Sala, Quite Alone, i. I asked him one day who she was, and he called me Paul Pry.

1901. Referee, 7 April, I. 1. No one except, perhaps, the Paul Pry's of the press desire to publish what is of private concern only.

Paunch, verb. (old colloquial).—To eat.

1564. Udal, Erasmus, 382. Now ye see him fed, paunched as lions are.