tattle
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Likely akin to M.Du., M.L.G., E.Fris. tateren - "to chatter, babble", possibly of imitative origin. Attested in 1481, in William Caxton's translation of "The History of Reynard the Fox" in the sense "to stutter", probably borrowed from Middle Dutch.
Verb [edit]
tattle (third-person singular simple present tattles, present participle tattling, simple past and past participle tattled)
- (intransitive, pejorative) To report others' wrongdoings or violations; to tell on somebody; to gossip or to disclose incriminating information.
- (intransitive) To chatter.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2 Scene 1
- BEATRICE. He were an excellent man that were made just in the mid-way between him and Benedick: the one is too like an image, and says nothing; and the other too like my lady's eldest son, evermore tattling.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2 Scene 1
Synonyms [edit]
- blow the whistle
- gossip; see also WS:chatter
Translations [edit]
to report others' wrongdoings or violations
to chatter
Noun [edit]
tattle (uncountable)
- A tattletale.
- Gossip; idle talk.
Related terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
tattletale
