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"patron" is also used as a crossword clue. If that's what you saw, the answer is often benefactor (10 letters).
Definitions
a regular customer
Word origin
From Middle English patroun, patrone, from Old French patron, from Latin patrōnus, derived from pater (“father”). Doublet of padrone, Patronus, patroon, and pattern.
Used in a sentence
“patron of my life and liberty”
“the patron of true holiness”
“Let him who works the client wrong beware the patron’s ire!”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer1 curated clues
01“Regular customer”6 letters
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