patois
noun/ˈpætwɑː/
/ˈpætwɑː/
(plural patois
/ˈpætwɑːz/
/ˈpætwɑːz/
)- a form of a language, spoken by people in a particular area, that is different from the standard language of the country
- She began shouting at him in a patois he could not understand.
- They were speaking in French patois.
Word Originmid 17th cent.: French, literally ‘rough speech’, perhaps from Old French patoier ‘treat roughly’, from patte ‘paw’.Want to learn more?
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