patronage (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[patronage 词源字典]
late 14c., "right of presenting a qualified person to a church benefice," from Old French patronage (14c.) from patron (see patron). Secular sense of "action of giving influential support" is from 1550s. General sense of "power to give jobs or favors" is from 1769; meaning "regular business of customers" is 1804.[patronage etymology, patronage origin, 英语词源]