patchn.[OE. pacche; of uncertain origin, perh. for placche; cf. Prov. E. platch patch, LG. plakk, plakke.]1. A piece of cloth, or other suitable material, sewed or otherwise fixed upon a garment to repair or strengthen it, esp. upon an old garment to cover a hole.()Patches set upon a little breach. (Shak.)2. A small piece of anything used to repair a breach; as, a patch on a kettle, a roof, etc.()3. A small piece of black silk stuck on the face, or neck, to hide a defect, or to heighten beauty.()Your black patches you wear variously. (Beau. & Fl.)4. (Gun.) A piece of greased cloth or leather used as wrapping for a rifle ball, to make it fit the bore.()5. Fig.: Anything regarded as a patch; a small piece of ground; a tract; a plot; as, scattered patches of trees or growing corn.()Employed about this patch of ground. (Bunyan.)6. (Mil.) A block on the muzzle of a gun, to do away with the effect of dispart, in sighting.()7. A paltry fellow; a rogue; a ninny; a fool.(Shak.)Patch ice, ice in overlapping pieces in the sea. -- Soft patch, a patch for covering a crack in a metallic vessel, as a steam boiler, consisting of soft material, as putty, covered and held in place by a plate bolted or riveted fast.()v. t.1. To mend by sewing on a piece or pieces of cloth, leather, or the like; as, to patch a coat.()2. To mend with pieces; to repair with pieces festened on; to repair clumsily; as, to patch the roof of a house.()3. To adorn, as the face, with a patch or patches.()Ladies who patched both sides of their faces. (Spectator.)4. To make of pieces or patches; to repair as with patches; to arrange in a hasty or clumsy manner; -- generally with up; as, to patch up a truce.(Shak.)