gab

¹

[ gab ]

verb (used without object)

, gabbed, gab·bing.

1. to talk or chat idly; chatter.

   Synonyms: schmooze, rap, yak, visit, gossip, chitchat

noun

1. idle talk; chatter.

gab

²

[ gab ]

noun

, Machinery.

1. a hook or fork that engages temporarily with a moving rod or lever.

gab

³

[ gab ]

noun

, Scot. Slang.

1. gob ³.

GAB

¹

abbreviation for

1. Gabon (international car registration)

gab

²

/ ɡæb /

noun

1. a hook or open notch in a rod or lever that drops over the spindle of a valve to form a temporary connection for operating the valve
2. a pointed tool used in masonry

gab

³

/ ɡæb /

verb

1. intr to talk excessively or idly, esp about trivial matters; gossip; chatter

noun

1. idle or trivial talk
2. gift of the gab
   ability to speak effortlessly, glibly, or persuasively

Derived Forms

• ˈgabber, noun

Other Words From

• gabber noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gab¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun gab, gabbe “deceit, falsehood, idle talk”; probably from Old Norse gabba “to mock”; gabble

Origin of gab²

First recorded in 1790–95; origin uncertain; possibly from Dutch dialect gabbe “notch, gash”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gab¹

C18: probably from Flemish gabbe notch, gash

Origin of gab²

C18: variant of Northern dialect gob mouth, probably from Irish Gaelic gob beak, mouth

Idioms and Phrases

see gift of gab .

Example Sentences

Because this is my book,” Kibbe writes, he decided to “mash up” the conversations into an “imaginary gab fest.

From The Daily Beast

In our interview, Moreno is effervescent and irreverent, with a genuine gift of the gab.

From The Daily Beast

She apologizes profusely, curls up across from me, and begins to, as she calls it, gab.

From The Daily Beast

But the millennium saw the last of the truly fat rappers: Gift of Gab, J-Live, Bone Crusher, and Fatman Scoop.

From The Daily Beast

The Gift of Gab, the only original member of Blackalicious present, is twice as big as Big Boi but only half as well known.

From The Daily Beast

If he could have barked, his meaning would have carried more convincingly, but he "hauded 'is gab" loyally.

From Project Gutenberg

Some persons start their gab carburetors, and they talk and talk mechanically, without any effort spent in thinking.

From Project Gutenberg

Another interest was what he called with pretended scorn, "Gregg's gab-fests."

From Project Gutenberg

"The gift of the gab" was one, and "He'd argue black was white" another.

From Project Gutenberg

Nine-tenths of the Victorian members possess at least the gift of the gab.

From Project Gutenberg