Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US und.) to acknowledge a new aspirant’s full membership of an outlaw bike club by allowing them to wear the club patch.

2021

S.A. Crosby Razorblade Tears 64: ‘I’ll speed up patching you in’.

(US) to drive off at speed.

1993		R. Grant Ebony Moon [ebook] They all climbed into the front seat and Miss Light patched out, tires squealing.
2013		T. Dorsey Riptide Ultra-Glide 272: The Torino patched out.

(Aus.) to initiate as a member of an outlaw motorcycle club, thus patched, a full-time member.

2016		D. Whish-Wilson Old Scores [ebook] According to Hogan, they were here to patch over the Junkyard Dogs.’ ‘Why’d anyone want to patch over the Junkyard Dogs? There’s only a couple dozen of them’.
2020		D. Whish-Wilson Shore Leave 54: Smith wasn’t a patched member.

1. (N.Z./US) to become a full gang member [one is awarded a patch n. (3)].

1990		Spectrum Documentary 16 Sept. [national radio] ‘You had some connection with Black Power?’ ‘Yeah, my two uncles were patched up for Hastings.’ [DNZE].
1991		B. Payne Staunch 123: I first patched up in 1972 and I’ve been part of one chapter ever since.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 154: Additions such as to be patched or to patch up for receiving membership; a patched member is distinguished from a ‘prospect’ who is still earning his patch, and any member is subject to depatch, to lose, membership.
2009		E. Winterhalder All Roads Lead to Sturgis [ebook] ‘It turns out the information Zipper provided when he patched out with us isn’t true’.

2. (US gay) to dress fashionably; to apply make-up.

1972

B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 146: patch up 1. spruce up, to wear the latest fashions 2. to lightly apply makeup.