Prating-cheat

or prattling-cheat, prattle-cheat, subs. phr. (old cant).—The tongue: see CLACK, where add to syns. ‘Manchester’ (Eng.), and la rouscaillante (Fr.). [PRITTLE or PRATTLE = diminutives of ‘prate’: and from PITTLE-PATTLE the weakened reduplication of PRITTLE-PRATTLE comes PIT-A-PAT (q.v.).] Whence, PRATING (PRATTLE or PRITTLE-PRATTLE) = talk, esp. gabble; TO PRATTLE (PRITTLE or PRITTLE-PRATTLE) = to chatter or CLACK (q.v.); PRATTLE-BASKET (-BOX, PRATE-ROAST, PRATTLER, or PRATE-APACE) = a chatterbox; PRATTLE-BROTH = tea: cf. CHATTER (or SCANDAL-) BROTH (q.v.); PRATTLING-BOX = a pulpit, or HUM-BOX (q.v.); PRATTLING-PARLOUR = a private apartment, or SNUGGERY (q.v.); PRATY (adj.) = talkative.—HARMAN (1567); B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785).

  1528.  ROY and BARLOW, Rede me and be nott wrothe [ARBER (1871), 43].

  c. 1541.  The Schole-house of Women, 644 [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, IV. 129].

  1548.  LATIMER, Sermons and Remains [Parker Society]. To PRITTLE-PRATTLE prayers. Ibid. To PITTLE-PATTLE.

  1577.  E. HELLOWES, trans. The Familiar Epistles of Sir Anthony of Guevara, 165. The office of the woman is to spin and PRATTLE, and the office of the man is to holde his peace and fight.

  1594.  J. LYLY, Mother Bombie, iv. 2. I see my daughter hath PRATTLED with Accius, and discovered her simplicity.

  1598.  FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Cianfrogna, gibrish, pedlars french, roguish language, fustian toong, PRITTLE-PRATTLE.

  1598.  SHAKESPEARE, All’s Well that Ends Well, iv. 1, 46. Tongue, I must put you into a butter-woman’s mouth, and buy myself another of Bajazet’s mule, if you PRATTLE me into these perils. Ibid. (1602), Othello, i. 1, 26. Mere PRATTLE without practice Is all his soldiership. Ibid. (1606) Macbeth, iv. 2, 64. Poor PRATTLER, how thou talk’st.

  d. 1626.  BRETON, Mother’s Blessing, lxxiv. A PRATTLE-BASKET or an idle slut.

  1636.  HEYWOOD, Love’s Mistress, 26. Prince of passions, PRATE-APACES, and pickl’d lovers … admiral of ay-mes! and monsieur of mutton lac’d. Ibid. (1637), The Royall King and Loyal Subject, Sig. B. You PRITTLE AND PRATTLE nothing but leasings and untruths.

  1638.  FORD, The Lady’s Trial, i. 2. Now we PRATTLE of handsome gentlemen.

  1659.  BRAMHALL, Church of England Defended, 46. It is plain PRITTLE-PRATTLE.

  1673.  WYCHERLEY, The Gentleman Dancing-Master, ii. 2. Don. I’ fackins; but you shan’t ask him, if you go there to, look you, you PRATTLE-BOX you, I’ll ask him.

  1693.  CONGREVE, The Old Bachelor, iv. 9. Nay, now I’m in, I can PRATTLE like a magpie.

  1697.  VANBRUGH, The Provoked Wife, ii. 1. By your ladyship’s leave we must have one moment’s PRATTLE together.

  1720.  D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, vi., 11. Her PRITTLE-PRATTLE, little tattle.

  1725.  N. BAILEY, trans. The Colloquies of Erasmus (1900), i. 78. Don’t be a PRITTLE PRATTLE, nor PRATE APACE, nor be a minding anything but what is said to you.

  1749.  SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 261. These two noblemen … were listening with admiration to his PRATTLE.

  1757.  R. PALTOCK, Life and Adventures of Peter Wilkins, I. ii. The old PRATTLEBOX made a short pause to recover breath.

  1783.  COWPER, The Task, ii. 382.

  1821.  W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry [DICK], 5. Jerry. Chaffing crib! I’m at fault, coz, can’t follow. Tom. My PRATTLING PARLOUR—my head quarters, coz, where I unbend with my pals.

  1836.  The Thieves’ Chaunt [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 121].