Late 16th century (in an earlier sense). From Portuguese patamar, apparently from Marathi pattevār letter from pattā information + Persian -vār containing, possessing (perhaps influenced by local colloquial form *pattemār or *pattāmār); compare Konkani pathmār courier, Marathi patemārī dispatch boat (goes to Gujarati phatemārī, Malayalam pattimāri), which are perhaps from Portuguese.