▪ I. ˈtwattling, vbl. n. Obs. exc. dial.
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb twattle; idle talking, chattering.
| 1586 J. Hooker Hist. Irel. in Holinshed II. 83/1 The continuall twatling of fliring clawbacks in their eares. 1634 W. Whately Redempt. Time 15 When one talkes toyes or trifles,..such twatling cuts out the heart of good time. 1653 W. Ramesey Astrol. Rej. 176 Addicted to twatling and prating. a 1745 Swift To Dr. Sheridan 14 Dec., You keep such a twattling with you and your bottling. |
▪ II. ˈtwattling, ppl. a. Obs. exc. dial.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
1. That ‘twattles’; chattering, babbling, prating. (Said of the person, or of the talk.)
| 1573 Twyne æneid xi. H h iv, Persist, And thoundre out thy twatling talke, as longe as thou shalt list. 1647 Lilly Chr. Astrol. cxxxiv. 594 She is..a twatling huswife, making discord where-ever she comes. 1702 Eng. Theophrast. 165 It is not for every Twatling Gossip. |
2. Sounding, making a noise. vulgar.
twattling strings, a vulgar expression for the sphincter ani.
| 1611 Florio, Naccare, drom-slades... And vsed for twatling fartes. 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iii. iii. 83 Her Base Violl went..with great danger of breaking her twatling-strings. 1739 ‘R. Bull’ tr. Dedekindus' Grobianus 268 Her twattling Strings, with Laughter overcome, No more contract the Passage of the Bum. |
† 3. Petty, trifling, paltry: = twaddling a. 1 b. Obs. rare—1. [Perh. related to twattle n.2]
| 1651 Miller of Mansf. 20 You feed us with twatling dishes so small. |