Pa*tris"tics (?), n. That departnent of historical theology which
treats of the lives and doctrines of the Fathers of the church.
Pa"tri*zate (?), v. i. [L. patrissare, patrizare;cf. Gr. &?;.] To
imitate one's father. [R.]
Pa*troc"i*nate (?), v. t. [L. patrocinatus, p. p. of patrocinari to
patronize, fr. patronus patron.] To support; to patronize. [Obs.]
Urquhart.
Pa*troc`i*na"tion (?), n. The act of patrocinating or patronizing.
[Obs.] "Patrocinations of treason." Bp. Hall.
Pa*troc"i*ny (?), n. [L. patrocinium.] [Obs.] See Patrocination.
Pa*trol" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Patrolled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Patrolling.] [F. patrouiller, O. & Prov. F. patrouiller to paddle, paw
about, patrol, fr. patte a paw; cf. D. poot paw, G. pfote, and E. pat,
v.] To go the rounds along a chain of sentinels; to traverse a police
district or beat.
Pa*trol" (?), v.t To go the rounds of, as a sentry, guard, or
policeman; as, to patrol a frontier; to patrol a beat.
Pa*trol", n. [F. patrouille, OF. patouille. See Patrol, v. i.] 1.
(Mil.) (a) A going of the rounds along the chain of sentinels and
between the posts, by a guard, usually consisting of three or four men,
to insure greater security from attacks on the outposts. (b) A
movement, by a small body of troops beyond the line of outposts, to
explore the country and gain intelligence of the enemy's whereabouts.
(c) The guard or men who go the rounds for observation; a detachment
whose duty it is to patrol.
2. Any perambulation of a particular line or district to guard it;
also, the men thus guarding; as, a customs patrol; a fire patrol.
In France there is an army of patrols to secure her fiscal
regulations.
A. Hamilton.
Pa*trole" (?), n. & v. See Patrol, n. & v.
Pa*trol"man (?), n.; pl. Patrolmen (&?;). One who patrols; a watchman;
especially, a policeman who patrols a particular precinct of a town or
city.
Pa"tron (?), n. [F., fr. L. patronus, fr. pater a father. See Paternal,
and cf. Patroon, Padrone, Pattern.] 1. One who protects, supports, or
countenances; a defender. "Patron of my life and liberty." Shak. "The
patron of true holiness." Spenser.
2. (Rom. Antiq.) (a) A master who had freed his slave, but still
retained some paternal rights over him. (b) A man of distinction under
whose protection another person placed himself. (c) An advocate or
pleader.
Let him who works the client wrong Beware the patron's ire.
Macaulay.
3. One who encourages or helps a person, a cause, or a work; a
furtherer; a promoter; as, a patron of art.