pat vs whittle

pat

verb
  • To hit lightly and repeatedly with the flat of the hand to make smooth or flat 

  • To stroke or fondle (an animal). 

  • To (gently) tap the flat of one's hand on a person or thing. 

  • To gently rain. 

noun
  • A flattish lump of soft matter, especially butter or dung. 

  • The sound of a light slap or tap with a soft flat object, especially of a footstep 

  • A light tap or slap, especially with the hands 

adv
  • Opportunely, in a timely or suitable way. 

  • Perfectly. 

adj
  • Exactly suitable, fitting, apt; timely, convenient, opportune, ready for the occasion; especially of things spoken. 

  • Trite, being superficially complete, lacking originality. 

whittle

verb
  • To cut or shape wood with a knife. 

  • To reduce or gradually eliminate something (such as a debt). 

  • To make eager or excited; to excite with liquor; to inebriate. 

noun
  • A knife; especially, a pocket knife, sheath knife, or clasp knife. 

How often have the words pat and whittle occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )