patois

Plural: patois

Noun

• A regional dialect, especially one not considered standard.
• a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
• a regional dialect of a language (especially French); usually considered substandard
• A regional dialect (usually one considered substandard) of a language (especially French).
• Any of various French or Occitan dialects spoken in France.
• Creole French in the Caribbean (especially in Dominica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti).
• Jamaican Patois, a Jamaican creole language based primarily on English and African languages but also having influences from Spanish, Portuguese, and Hindi.
• Jargon or cant.

Examples

• Some players develop a distinct patois of Scrabble slang, unique to their group.

Synonyms

argot, cant, jargon, lingo, slang, vernacular, Jamaican, Jamaican Patois, Patwa