tattle

i. [A frequentative from a base tat-, expre ive of the sound of talking or repeating the syllable ta, ta, ta ( Wedgwood ); cf. Dut. tateren = to stammer; Low Ger. tateln =to tattle, titetateln = TITTER.] to tittle-tattle; täteler =a tattler.] [TATER, TITTLE, 1. To prate, to chatter, to talk idly; to use many words with little or no meaning. "How these young things tattle , when they get a toy by the end."- Beaum . & Flet .: Island Prince , iii. 2. To tell tales; to communicate secrets; to blab. "She's a very tattling woman."-Shakesp.: Merry Wives of Windsor, iii. 3. tăt-tle, s. [TATTLE, v. ) Prate, idle talk, tittle tattle. "Persons well skilled in those different subjects hear the impertinent tattle with a just contempt." Watts : On the Mind. *tat-tle-ment, s. [Eng. tattle ; -ment.] Tattle, idle talk, chattering. "Her foolish, glad tattle ment." -Carlyle: Miscell., iv. 239. tăt'-tler, *tăt'-ler, s. [Eng. tattl (e); -er.] 1. Ord. Lang.: One who tattles; an idle talker; one who tells tales. "Tattlers will be sure to hear The trumpet of contention." Cowper: Friendship. 2. Ornith . A popular name for any species of the modern Totanine (q. v.). Totanus macular i us is known as the Spotted Tattler, and T. flavipes , the Yellow-shanked Sandpiper, as the Tell-tale Tattler. The popular name is derived from their habit of uttering a shrill whistle of four loud and rapidly the alarm to all the birds in the neighborhood. (Ripley & Dana.) *tăt-tler-ỹ, s. [English tattle ; -ry.] Idle talk; tittle-tattle. tăt-tling, pr.par.ora. [TATTLE, v.] *tat-tling-ly, adv . [Eng. tattling ; -ly.] In a tattling manner; with idle talk.