Main Entry: pa·tois

Pronunciation: \ˈpa-ˌtwä, ˈpä-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural pa·tois \-ˌtwäz\

Etymology: French

Date: 1643

1 a : a dialect other than the standard or literary dialect b : uneducated or provincial speech
2 : the characteristic special language of an occupational or social group : jargon