tattle

[tat-l]

See more synonyms for tattle on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), tat·tled, tat·tling.

to let out secrets.
to chatter, prate, or gossip.

verb (used with object), tat·tled, tat·tling.

to utter idly; disclose by gossiping.

noun

the act of tattling.
idle talk; chatter; gossip.

Origin of tattle

1475–85; < Dutch tatelen; cognate with Middle Low German tatelen

Related formstat·tling·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for tattle

prate, yak, jabber, spill, babble, leak, snitch, noise, rumor, chat, gossip, prattle, blab, chatter, talk, squeal

Examples from the Web for tattle

Historical Examples of tattle

He lowered his voice as if a sea urchin might hear and tattle.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
Is not this better than the indulgence in perpetual trifling and tattle?
The Young Maiden
A. B. (Artemas Bowers) Muzzey
So much so that if she had a husband, he dare not beat her lest she run and tattle to them.
The Arrow-Maker
Mary Austin
Sooner I had a snake in my hut to run and tattle to the gods of me.
The Arrow-Maker
Mary Austin
It was no maiden, nor the tattle of the town, that brought you this.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, Number 361, November, 1845.
Various

British Dictionary definitions for tattle

tattle

verb

(intr) to gossip about another's personal matters or secrets
(tr) to reveal by gossipingto tattle a person's secrets
(intr) to talk idly; chat

noun

the act or an instance of tattling
a scandalmonger or gossip

Word Origin for tattle

C15 (in the sense: to stammer, hesitate): from Middle Dutch tatelen to prate, of imitative origin

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 tattle

late 15c., "to stammer, prattle," in Caxton's translation of "Reynard the Fox," probably from Middle Flemish tatelen "to stutter," parallel to Middle Dutch, Middle Low German, East Frisian tateren "to chatter, babble," possibly of imitative origin. The meaning "tell tales or secrets" is first recorded 1580s. Sense influenced by tittle. Related: Tattled; tattling.