prattle
[prat-l]
- to talk in a foolish or simple-minded way; chatter; babble.
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- to utter by chattering or babbling.
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- the act of prattling.
- chatter; babble: the prattle of children.
- a babbling sound: the prattle of water rushing over stones.
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Origin of prattle
Synonyms
See more synonyms for prattle on Thesaurus.com1. gab, jabber, gabble, blab.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for prattle
Contemporary Examples
Then, since the Battleground states are something about which the Talking Heads like to prattle.
Historical Examples
You know how readily we get into prattle upon a subject dear to our heart: you can excuse it.
The Letters of Robert BurnsRobert Burns
As for all the prattle about pre-Raphaelitism, I confess to you I am weary of it, and long have been.
Recollections of Dante Gabriel RossettiT. Hall Caine
The boy had pattered French with the former since he had first begun to prattle at all.
Billy Topsail & CompanyNorman Duncan
He listened to people's talk as though it had been children's prattle.
RomanceJoseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer
Her prattle seeped in and he became aware of it and what she was saying.
Life SentenceJames McConnell
prattle
- (intr) to talk in a foolish or childish way; babble
- (tr) to utter in a foolish or childish way
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- foolish or childish talk
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Word Origin
C16: from Middle Low German pratelen to chatter; see prate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for prattle
v.
1530s, frequentative of prate (q.v.). Related: Prattled; prattling. The noun is attested from 1550s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper