noun pl. patois -·tois′ (-twäz′; Fr, -twȧ′)

1. a form of a language differing generally from the accepted standard, as a provincial or local dialect
2. jargon (sense )

Etymology: Fr < OFr, uncultivated speech, akin to patoier, to shake paws, behave crudely < pate, paw, akin to Frank *pauta > paw