blather

Definition

To talk rapidly without making much sense.

Etymology

From Middle English bletheren, bloderen, from Old Norse blaðra (“to speak inarticulately, talk nonsense”). Cognate with Scots blether, bladder, bledder (“to blather”), dialectal German bladdern (“to talk nonsense, blather”), Norwegian bladra (“to babble, speak imperfectly”), Icelandic blaðra (“to twaddle”).

Example Sentences

• "“There you go blatherin’,” said Brindle, intending a mild rebuke."
• "It was at the unveiling of Sir John Gray's statue. Edmund Dwyer Gray was speaking, blathering away, and here was this old fellow, crabbed-looking old chap, looking at him from under his bushy eyebrows."
• "On and on he blathered, taking refuge in the one thing he felt lent him superiority: words."