subs. (colloquial).—1. See quots.
1748. F. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). HUBBLE-BUBBLE (s.) a confused noise made by a talkative person, who speaks so quick, that it is difficult to understand what he says or means.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. HUBBLE-BUBBLE. Confusion. A HUBBLE-BUBBLE fellow; a man of confused ideas, or one thick of speech, whose words sound like water bubbling out of a bottle.
2. (common).—A hookah; a pipe by which the smoke is passed through water.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. HUBBLE-BUBBLE. … Also an instrument used for smoaking through water in the East Indies, called likewise a caloon, and hooker.
1868. OUIDA, Under Two Flags, ch. xxii. The Moor, warmly grateful, was ever ready to give him a cup of coffee and a HUBBLE-BUBBLE in the stillness of his dwelling.
1887. The Field, 15 Oct. Off I went down the ravine, and half a mile below came to Besan quietly smoking his HUBBLE-BUBBLE.
1891. W. C. RUSSELL, An Ocean Tragedy, p. 130. A burning atmosphere sickly with the smell of the incense of the HUBBLE-BUBBLE, with a flavour of hot curry about.
