▪ I. babbling, vbl. n.
(ˈbæblɪŋ)
[f. babble v.]
1. Incoherent talk, idle chatter, babblement.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 190 Preiere of holy lif..not of babelynge of lippis. 1535 Coverdale Prov. x. 19 Where moch bablinge is, there must nedes be offence. 1611 Bible Prov. xxiii. 29 Who hath contentions? who hath babbling? 1869 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) III. xi. 11 All this prophetic talk was but the babbling of an old man. |
2. transf. Cf. babble v. 4.
| 1686 Gentl. Recr. i. 15 Babbling..is when the hounds are too busy after they have found a good scent. 1736 Swift Wks. (1841) II. 131 The little church bells shall cease their babblings. 1837 Hawthorne Amer. Note-Bks. (1871) I. 59 No noise..but the babbling of the stream. |
† 3. ? Wavering, oscillation. Cf. babble v. 5.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 20/1 Babelynge or wauerynge, Vacillacio, librillacio. |
4. attrib., as in babbling-place, babbling-school, etc.
| 1650 Sherwood, A Babbling place (where gossips meet), caquetoire. 1653 Milton Hirelings Wks. (1851) 387 Bred up for Divines in babling Schools. |
▪ II. ˈbabbling, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
1. Making imperfect efforts at speech.
| 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 187/1 The Papists will pray in a mumbling and babling sort. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth III. 85 The babbling cry of childhood. |
2. Chattering, prating, foolishly talkative.
| c 1230 Ancr. R. 100 To babelinde, and to spekefule ancren. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. iv. ii. 150 A long tongu'd babling Gossip. 1735 Pope Prol. Sat. 304 Such babbling blockheads. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) II. iii. v. 71 His degradation was concealed from a babbling and censorious world. |
3. transf. Cf. babble v. 4.
| 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. ii. iii. 17 The babling Eccho mock's the Hounds. a 1610 Fletcher Faithf. Sheph. iii. i, Here never durst the babling Cuckow spit. 1735 Somerville Chase i. 281 A lagging Line Of babling Curs. 1814 Wordsw. Wh. Doe iii. 257 The scorn Of babbling winds. |