Chicago,

You are exactly right. I have discussed this in depth on another forum where people interested in city history etc. go.

"The Patch" basically at some point became a catch all term that seemed to follow the Italian immigrants around, from Grand Ave. to Taylor Street, and in some books writers even refer to Little Hell (where Cabrini recently was) as "The Patch."

The most narrow definition seems to be around Smith Park, but it's been so widely misused for so long that I don't think that definition really means anything anymore.