noun

1. a person empowered with the granting of an English church benefice
2. patron saint
3. a person corresponding in some respects to a father; protector; benefactor
4. a person, usually a wealthy and influential one, who sponsors and supports some person, activity, institution, etc. the patrons of the orchestra
5. a regular customer, as of a store
6. in ancient Rome, a person who had freed a slave but still retained a certain paternal control over the slave

Etymology: ME patroun < OFr patrun, patron < ML & L: ML(Ec) patronus, patron saint, patron < L, a protector, defender < pater, father