Forms: 5–6 bable, 6– babble. See BIBBLE-BABBLE. [f. the vb. Cf. F. babil, 15th c. in Littré.]
1. Inarticulate or imperfect speech, such as that of infants; prattle.
1668. R. L’Estrange, Vis. Quev. (1708), 5. The Conjurer granted my request, and the Spirit went on with his Babble.
1864. Tennyson, En. Ard., 607. The babes, their babble.
1871. Darwin, Desc. Man, ii. 55. Man has an instinctive tendency to speak, as we see in the babble of our young children.
2. Idle, foolish or unseasonable talk; prating.
c. 1460. Play Sacr., 648. Avoyde fealows, I loue not your bable.
1513. More, Rich. III., Wks. 57/1. Neither mute nor ful of bable.
1658. Bramhall, Consecr. Bps., vi. 138. He had greater matters to trouble his head withall, then Mr. Holywoods bables.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., X. XXI. ix. 182. A great deal of unwise babble on this subject.
3. Confused murmur, as of a stream.
1616. Beaum. & Fl., Wit without M., V. 164. This Sack has fill’d my head so full of bables, I am almost mad.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., II. III. 13. Nought he seemed to hear Save the brook’s babble.
