patch
UK: pætʃ | US: pætʃ
n. a small piece of material used to mend or cover a hole
n. an area of land, especially one with a particular characteristic
vt. to repair or mend with a patch
vt. (computing) to update or fix software with a small piece of code
The word "patch" originated in Middle English (as "pacche"), likely derived from the Old English "pæcc" or "pecc," meaning a piece of cloth used for mending. Its roots may trace back to Vulgar Latin "*paccia," though its exact lineage is debated. Over time, "patch" expanded from its literal sense of a fabric repair to metaphorical uses, such as land plots or software fixes, reflecting its core idea of a small, applied piece.
She sewed a patch over the hole in her jeans.
The garden had a small patch of wildflowers.
The mechanic patched the tire temporarily.
The developer released a patch to fix the bug.
His speech was a patch of borrowed ideas.