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patois

Pronunciation: /ˈpatwɑː/

Definition of patois

noun (plural same /-wɑːz/)

  • the dialect of a particular region, especially one with low status in relation to the standard language of the country:the nurse talked to me in a patois that even Italians would have had difficulty in understanding
  • the jargon or informal speech used by a particular social group:the raunchy patois of inner-city kids

Origin:

mid 17th century: French, literally 'rough speech', perhaps from Old French patoier 'treat roughly', from patte 'paw'

patois in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of patois in the US English dictionary