Etymology
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jabber (v.)

"talk rapidly and indistinctly," 1650s, spelling variant of Middle English jablen (c. 1400), also javeren, jaberen, chaveren, jawin; probably ultimately echoic. Related: Jabbered; jabbering. The noun, "rapid, unintelligible talk" is 1727, from the verb. Related: Jabberment (Milton).

Entries linking to jabber

gibberish (n.)

"rapid and inarticulate speech; talk in no known language," 1550s, imitative of the sound of chatter, probably influenced by jabber. Used early 17c. of the language of rogues and gypsies.

jibber-jabber (v.)

1728, "to talk gibberish," reduplication of jabber (q.v.). Related: Jibber-jabbering. As a noun from 1813, also gibber-gabber. Compare gibble-gabble "idle talk, chatter" (c. 1600). Jibber (v.) is attested from 1824.

updated on January 21, 2016

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Dictionary entries near jabber

Izod

izzard

J

j'accuse

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Jabberwocky

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jabroni

jacaranda

jacinth

© 2001-2023 Douglas Harper