patty–cake

noun pat·ty–cake \ˈpa-tē-ˌkāk\

: a children's game in which two people lightly hit their hands together while singing a short poem (called a nursery rhyme)

Full Definition of PATTY-CAKE

: a game in which two participants (as mother and child) clap their hands together to the rhythm of an accompanying nursery rhyme

See patty–cake defined for English-language learners

pat·ty–cake or pat–a–cake \ˈpa-də-ˌkāk, ˈpat-ə-\

from the opening words of the rhyme

First Known Use: 1889

Next Word in the Dictionary: pattypanPrevious Word in the Dictionary: pattyAll Words Near: patty-cake

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