▪ I. brabble, v. Obs. or arch. exc. dial.
(ˈbræb(ə)l)
Also 6 brabbel, brabil, -el, 6–8 brable.
[Derivation obscure: usually identified with Du. brabbelen to confuse, stammer, jabber (cf. brabbling vbl. n. 2), but it is doubtful whether the history of the senses in Eng. supports this. Cf. brawl, babble.
Skinner conjectured a corruption of med.L. parabolare, to harangue, discourse (? a forensic or university term), cf. Welsh parablu to speak. Du Cange has ‘tota die parabolare per scripturas,’ which agrees with sense 1. With ‘womanish brabble’ cf. the proverb ‘ubi mulieres ibi parabolæ.’]
1. intr. To dispute captiously or obstinately; to cavil or quibble. Const. with, against a person; about, on, at, for a thing.
| c 1500 Pore helpe 96 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 256 They wolde not haue you playe To dryue the tyme awaye; But brabble on the Byble. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark x. 24 They did not crie, and brable agaynst him. 1579 J. Field Calvin's Serm. Ded., And then they brable with us about the translation. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World II. v. v. §9. 609 He thought it no fit season to brabble at the Law. 1621 Bp. R. Montagu Diatribæ 538 What have we brabbled, and contended for all this while? |
2. To quarrel about trifles; esp. to quarrel noisily, brawl, squabble. Cf. brabble n. 3.
| c 1530 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture in Babees Bk. (1868) 92 Brable not thou with thy neyghbour. 1590 Greene Never too late (Wks. 1882) VIII. 136 Though Mars and Venus brabled, they were friends after brawls. 1653 Holcroft Procopius iii. 78 While they were thus brabling for the spoiles. 1675 Cotton Poet. Wks. (1765) 220 If I reach one of you a Douse, You'll learn more Manners than to brabble. |
3. = babble v.
| 1570 Levins Manip. 126 To Brabil, multum loqui. 1875 Lanc. Gloss. (E.D.S.) Brabble, to chatter noisily. |
▪ II. ˈbrabble, n.
[f. prec.]
† 1. A quibble, a captious objection or dispute.
| 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 227/2 To confounde..the Sophisticall brables of all other adversaries. a 1626 Bp. Andrewes Serm. ix. (1641) 105 True righteousnesse leadeth to peace, not to questions and brabble. 1674 Marvell Reh. Transp. ii. 312 It is not worth the Readers trouble to interess him in such a foolish brabble. |
† 2. A frivolous or paltry action at law. Obs.
| 1598 R. Bernard Terence's Andria iv. v, To go follow sutes and brabbles in law. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. 271 In Judicial Affairs..those less general words of Suit, Controversie..Case, Cause, Action..Brabble. 1677 Hobbes Odyss. 150 The judge ariseth from his seat, Ending the brabbles of contentious men. |
3. A paltry altercation, noisy quarrel.
| 1566 Grindal Lett. Wks. (1843) 289 To declare a womanish brabble that happened yesternight in a church in London. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iv. viii. 69 Fluellen..Keepe you out of prawles and prabbles and quarrels. 1641 Milton Ch. Discip. ii. Wks. (1851) 54 To make a Nationall Warre of a Surplice Brabble, a Tippet-scuffle. 1860 Motley Netherl. (1868) II. xv. 229 To spend the time in private brabbles and piques..is not a good course. |
† b. A brawl, skirmish, or petty war. Obs.
| 1577 Holinshed Chron. III. 1145/1 In the which brabble it happened the capteins horsse to be slaine vnder him. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. v. i. 68 Heere in the streets..In priuate brabble did we apprehend him. 1622 Heylin Cosmogr. iii. (1682) 168 A matter of more consequence than these Scythian brables. |
4. Discordant babble.
| 1861 Temple Bar Oct., Sev. Sons Mam. xxvi, The myriad-tongued brabble had ceased. 1868 Browning Ring & Bk. iv. 34 To hear the rabble and brabble, you'd call the case Fused and confused past human finding out. |