noun

1. a piece of material applied to cover or mend a hole or tear or to strengthen a weak spot
2. a dressing applied to a wound or sore
3. a pad or shield worn over an eye, as for protection
4. a surface area differing from its surroundings in nature or appearance patches of snow on the ground
5. a small plot of ground a potato patch
6. 1. a small piece of any material; scrap; bit; remnant
   2. beauty spot (sense )
7. the connection of two circuits, pieces of electronic equipment, etc. with a cable (patch cord) having plugs or clips on each end, specif. such a connection (phone patch) of telephone and radio equipment
8. shoulder patch
9. Comput. a number of instructions added to a program that has already been translated into machine language, as to correct an error
10. Pharmacy an adhesive pad containing a drug or hormone that is to be steadily absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream

Etymology: ME pacche, prob. var. of peche, a piece < OFr pieche, var. of pece, piece, piece

transitive verb

1. to put a patch or patches on
2. to serve as a patch for
3. to form or make by the use of patches to patch a quilt
4. to produce or piece together roughly, crudely, or hurriedly: often with up or together
5. to connect (electronic circuits, equipment, etc.), as with patch cords

intransitive verb

noun

1. a court jester
2. any clown or fool

Etymology: prob. < It paccheo, dial. var. of pazzo, crazy (< ? L patiens, sick: see patient): altered by assoc. with patch