gabble

American  

[gab-uhl] / ˈgæb əl /

verb (used without object)

gabbled, gabbling

1. to speak or converse rapidly and unintelligibly; jabber.

2. (of hens, geese, etc.) to cackle.

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verb (used with object)

gabbled, gabbling

1. to utter rapidly and unintelligibly.

noun

1. rapid, unintelligible talk.

2. any quick succession of meaningless sounds.

gabble British  

/ ˈɡæbəl /

verb

1. to utter (words, etc) rapidly and indistinctly; jabber

2. (intr) (of geese and some other birds or animals) to utter rapid cackling noises

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noun

1. rapid and indistinct speech or noises

Other Word Forms

• gabbler noun
• outgabble verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of gabble

First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps from Middle Dutch gabbelen, or an expressive formation in English; gab ¹, gob ⁴, -le

Example Sentences

Mr. Bernthal, an Emmy winner for “The Bear,” imbues Sonny with a pinballing energy as he gabbles orders at the hostages and begins flailing negotiations with the cops massing outside.

From The Wall Street Journal

And Lucky’s monologue—veering inanely through realms including religion, academics and sports—is delivered by Mr. Thornton not, as it usually is, as a galloping pile of gabble, but with a musing seriousness.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hugo House is steamy by comparison, a hotbed of nerves and gabble.

From Seattle Times

He poked his head into the doorway and began to gabble good-naturedly about something or other, and after a few minutes we picked up our drinks and followed him back to the living room.

From Literature

“Trust,” I say, gabbling in the release of endorphins, in a delirium, lying on my back on the wide, flat rock.

From New York Times