▪ I. tattling, vbl. n.
(ˈtætlɪŋ)
[f. tattle v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb tattle.
† 1. Faltering, stammering; prattling; baby-talk.
| 1481 Caxton Reynard xxvii. (Arb.) 65 But who can gyue to his lesynge a conclusion, and prononce it without tatelyng [orig. ende seit sine woerden sonder tatelen]. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones xviii. xiv, He declares the tattling of his little grand-daughter, who is above a year and a half old, is sweeter music than the finest cry of dogs in England. |
2. Idle talking; chattering, prating; gossiping; blabbing, tale-telling.
| 1547 in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) II. iv. 24 [Barlow, bishop of S. Davids..preached at court..urging..a redress of several abuses in religion... The Bishop of Winchester..was mightily disturbed at it, calling it] his tattling. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iv. i. 26 Peace, your tatlings. 1673 Lady's Call. i. i. §12 When 'tis remembred that St. Paul makes tatling the effect of idleness. a 1693 Urquhart's Rabelais iii. xiii. 106 The..tatling of Jackdaws,..kekling of Hens. a 1720 Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iv. 364 We do it in private to keep you from tattling. 1825 T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Man of Many Fr., So that no discovery..might be made by any tattling amongst the servants. |
▪ II. ˈtattling, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That tattles; chattering; gossiping; tale-telling.
| 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 28 Blowen abroad..amongest tattlyng women, foolishe children. 1664 Butler Hud. ii. i. 77 This tattling Gossip knew too well What mischief Hudibras befell. 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull iii. v, Tattling people that carried tales. 1841 Hood Tale Trumpet 92 In the prattling, tattling village of Tringham. |
b. transf. and fig.: cf. babbling; sometimes = ‘tell-tale’.
| 1576 Gascoigne Philomene 35 The tatling Awbe doth please some fancie wel, And some like best, the byrde as Black as cole. 1652 Benlowes Theoph. iv. lxviii, When keen breath'd winds..glaze tatling stream. 1731 Swift Cassinus & Peter Wks. 1755 IV. i. 165 Nor whisper to the tattling reeds The blackest of all female deeds. 1881 E. Arnold Ind. Poetry 91 Let him hear the tattling ripple Of the bangles round thy feet. |
Hence ˈtattlingly adv.
| 1847 in Webster. |