gab´bler

gab|ble «GAB uhl», verb, -bled, -bling, noun.

–v.i.

1. to talk rapidly and noisily with little or no meaning; jabber: »

We were nervous of Mr. Cookeem, feeling we had not the correct entrée or visa as he waited while customers were served and he and they gabbled in some unrecognizable tongue (London Times).

2. to make rapid, meaningless sounds; cackle: »

the noisy geese that gabbled o'er the pool (Oliver Goldsmith).

–v.t.

to utter rapidly with little or no meaning; babble: »

At times the words were so gabbled that it was impossible to catch them (Manchester Guardian).

–n.

1. rapid and noisy talk with little or no meaning; babble: »

Richards'…dialogue carries conviction, particularly the snatched gabbles of a man whose thoughts are elsewhere being overheard on the telephone (Punch).

2. rapid, meaningless noises made by animals: »

The turtles stun one with their yawning gabble (Leigh Hunt).

╂[probably imitative]

–gab´bler, noun.