patch

n. & v.
—n.
1 a piece of material or metal etc. used to mend a hole or as reinforcement.
2 a pad worn to protect an injured eye.
3 a dressing etc. put over a wound.
4 a large or irregular distinguishable area on a surface.
5 colloq. a period of time in terms of its characteristic quality (went through a bad patch).
6 a piece of ground.
7 colloq. an area assigned to or patrolled by an authorized person, esp. a police officer.
8 a number of plants growing in one place (brier patch).
9 a scrap or remnant.
10 a temporary electrical connection.
11 hist. a small disc etc. of black silk attached to the face, worn esp. by women in the 17th-18th c. for adornment.
12 Mil. a piece of cloth on a uniform as the badge of a unit.
—v.tr.
1 (often foll. by up) repair with a patch or patches; put a patch or patches on.
2 (of material) serve as a patch to.
3 (often foll. by up) put together, esp. hastily or in a makeshift way.
4 (foll. by up) settle (a quarrel etc.) esp. hastily or temporarily.
Phrases and idioms:
not a patch on colloq. greatly inferior to. patch cord an insulated lead with a plug at each end, for use with a patchboard. patch panel = PATCHBOARD. patch pocket one made of a piece of cloth sewn on a garment. patch test a test for allergy by applying to the skin patches containing allergenic substances.
Derivatives:
patcher n.
Etymology: ME pacche, patche, perh. var. of peche f. OF pieche dial. var. of piece PIECE