tattling
English
Verb
tattling
- present participle of tattle
Noun
tattling (plural tattlings)
- The speech of one who tattles.
- c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The Merry VViues of VVindsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene i]:
- Peace your tattlings!
- 1859, John Baillie, St. Augustine: A Biographical Memoir, New York: Robert Carter & Bros., Chapter 13, p. 112,
- […] that chaste and sober widow […] coming to Thy church, not for idle tattlings and old wives’ fables, but that she might hear Thee in Thy discourses […]
- 1935, Nellie McClung, Clearing in the West, Toronto: Thomas Allen, Chapter 13,
- […] we could have a glorious and radiant world here and now, a bright and happy world! There would be joy and gladness and singing in it, with plenty of work for everyone, but it would all be happy work; there would be no bad tempers, or tattlings, or scoldings, or ox beating, or ugliness.
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