pet somebody/something

[Saki6]

pet somebody/something
(especially North American English) to touch or move your hand gently over an animal or a child in a kind and loving way
He petted the dog and ruffled its fur.


Do BrE speakers say "He patted the dog" to mean "He petted the dog"?

 

[emsr2d2]

I use "patted the dog" specifically to mean that I touched the dog repeatedly in an up-and-down manner. I use "petted the dog" to mean any kind of nice, friendly tactile contact I have - I might rub its tummy, pat it, stroke it, nuzzle its ears and nose, etc.

 

[Rover_KE]

You'd nuzzle its ears and nose?:-?

 

[emsr2d2]

Yup!

 

[Saki6]

I wonder why "North American English" was added to the definition, then.

 

[Saki6]

In both AmE and BrE, "pet somebody/something" means "to touch or move your hand gently over an animal or a child in a kind and loving way," doesn't it?