natter

[ nat-er ]

/ ˈnæt ər /

verb (used without object)

to talk incessantly; chatter.

noun

a conversation; chat.

Nearby words

Origin of natter

First recorded in 1820–30; variant of earlier gnatter < ?

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nattering

Chuck Todd took over Meet the Press barely a month ago, and already the chattering class is nattering for his head.
Jon Stewart and 'Meet The Press' Would Have Been One Unhappy Marriage|Lloyd Grove|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is enough to make Agnewesque nattering nabobs of negativism proud.
Economic News We’re Thankful For This Thanksgiving|Zachary Karabell|November 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
“O–oh, Monsieur Parole,” I exclaimed at his nattering category of my attributes, almost blushing.
She and I, Volume 2|John Conroy Hutcheson
But I set no count on his nattering so long as I could keep him alive.
More Tales of the Ridings|Frederic Moorman

I have drawn no nattering portrait of him—but, like other men, he has his good points.
The Rock of the Lion|Molly Elliot Seawell
A nattering distinction, which he seldom lavished upon his visitors.
The Honor of the Name|Emile Gaboriau
How is a lad to enjoy the society of his mother if she is perpetually nagging and nattering at him?
Human Intercourse|Philip Gilbert Hamerton

British Dictionary definitions for nattering

natter

/ (ˈnætə) mainly British /

verb

(intr) to talk idly and at length; chatter or gossip

noun

prolonged idle chatter or gossip

Derived Formsnatterer, noun

Word Origin for natter

C19: changed from gnatter to grumble, of imitative origin; compare Low German gnatteren

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nattering

natter

"grumble, chatter aimlessly, nag," 1829, northern England dialect variant of gnatter "to chatter, grumble," earlier (18c.) "to nibble away," probably of echoic origin. Related: Nattered; nattering. As a noun, 1866, from the verb.