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 speech2: the characteristic special language of an occupational or social group : jargon