Forms: 3–4 babel, 4–8 -le, 6 -yl, -il, 6– babble. [Cf. Du. and LG. babbelen, Ger. pappelen (bappelen), Da. bable, Icel. babbla (not known in OE., ON., OHG.); F. babill-er, 15th c. in Littré: cf. also It. babbolare to play the baby. In some of these languages probably adopted from others; in none can its history be carried far back; as yet it is known in English as early as anywhere else. Probably formed (with frequentative suffix -le; cf. prattle) on the repeated syllabic ba, ba, one of the earliest articulate sounds made by infants, fitly used to express childish prattle. No direct connection with Babel can be traced; though association with that may have affected the senses.]
I. intransitive.
1. To make imperfect attempts at speech, like a child; to utter inarticulate or indistinct sounds.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 8. And so I babelide [v.r. bablide, blaberde, blaberid] on my Beodes.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1187/2. They heard her tonge bable in her head … after that the head was fro the bodye.
1560. Disob. Child, in Hazl., Dodsl., II. 295. When the child waxeth somewhat old, For meat and drink he begins to babble.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 149. Nurses doe halfe chew the meate to the little ones, and doe babble with them in their owne stammering and vnperfite language.
1842. Tennyson, Dora, 132. And babbled for the golden seal, that hung From Allan’s watch.
2. To talk childishly, to prattle; to talk incoherently or foolishly; to utter meaningless words.
a. 1230. [see BABBLING ppl. a. 2].
1503. Hawes, Examp. Virt., vii. 102. For ye without wytte sholde alway bable.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. iii. 17. (Theobald), And ’a babled of greene fields.
1610. Bp. Carleton, Jurisd., 248. As they bable in their decretals.
1799. Sheridan, Pizarro, I. i. They only babble who practise not reflection.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., i. 4. His reason went astray … for he babbled, for a long time, about the generosity and goodness of his brother.
3. To talk excessively or inopportunely; to chatter, prate.
c. 1510. Barclay, Mirr. Good Mann. (1570), A j. Olde men which haue vsed in time passed to bable In barbarike language.
1526. Tindale, Matt. vi. 7. When ye praye, bable not moche, as the gentyls do.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, III. iii. 36. For the Watch to babble and talke … is not to be indured.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., 227. Ever chattering and babling as if they had obtained a patent for prating.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, III. 237. And let me tell you, girl, Howe’er you babble, great deeds cannot die.
4. transf. of streams, brooks, etc.; also of young birds, and spec. of hounds that give tongue too loudly or without reason.
1399. Pol. Poems (1859), I. 395. The nedy nestlingis … bablid with her billis.
1611. Markham, Countr. Content., II. iii. 22. If any young Hound will … run babling away without the scent.
1777. Sir W. Jones, Pal. Fort., 27. Echo babling by the mountain’s side.
1812. Combe (Dr. Syntax), Pictur., xxi. (D.). And when they babble in their din, I am a special whipper-in.
1860. Tennyson, Brook. I bubble into eddying bays, I babble on the pebbles.
† 5. ? To waver, oscillate, quiver. Obs. [Perhaps a distinct word.]
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 20/1. Bablyn, or waveryn, Librillo.
II. transitive.
6. To repeat or utter with meaningless iteration; to speak foolishly or incoherently; to prate.
c. 1418. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 244. To bable the Bible day and niȝt.
1548. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. Rom., Prol. Though he babil neuer so many thinges of fayth and good workes.
1651. Wittie, trans. Primrose’s Pop. Err., IV. xlviii. 405. That which he babbles concerning the spirit of the World.
1847. Barham, Ingol. Leg. (1877), 232. Mere unmeaning talk her parch’d lips babbled now.
7. To reveal by talking or chattering. Cf. blab.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 96. Who heareth all, And all bableth.
1791–1824. Disraeli, Cur. Lit. (1859), II. 338. The queen … impatiently babbled the plot.
1852. D. Mitchell, Dream Life, 15. Griefs too sacred to be babbled to the world.
