Try this site:

https://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/inst1940.shtml

My guess would be Patient. It may seem like a misnomer, but when the canvassers were given their instructions that was probably it although too much time has gone by to question the canvasser his/herself. It's the same like a row home was to be indicated as a townhouse in 2000 census. Sometimes the canvassers get twisted up when another family lives at the same residence. One will indicate the relationship while another lists them as boarders or lodgers. They (we) weren't/aren't perfect, we made/make mistakes, that's why they put erasers on the ends of pencils or have a backspace in computers.


Good luck,

Frank