prater1
(ˈpreɪtə(r))
[f. prate v. + -er1. So Du. prater a talker.]
One who prates; an obnoxious or idle talker, one who speaks much to little purpose, a mere talker, a chatterer. Formerly also a boaster, an evil-speaker.
| c 1420 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 674 There were bosters, braggars, & brybores, Praters, fasers, strechers, & wrythers. 1550 Bale Apol. Pref. 13 Though Hierome wer a great prater and boaster of virginitie, yet was he no virgine. 1622 T. Scott Belg. Pismire 10 He is a prater..that never doeth any thing. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) II. 223 A Prater..is like a Earwig, when he gets within a Man's Ear he is not easily to be got out again. 1704 Swift Batt. Bks. Misc. (1711) 258 Miscreant Prater... Eloquent only in thine own Eyes, thou railest without Wit. 1883 F. Leifchild in Contemp. Rev. XLIII. 51 Laertes..a prater of moral maxims, while he is all for Paris and its pleasures. |