tittle-tattle

[ tit-l-tat-l ]

noun

1. gossip or foolish chatter.

verb (used without object)

, tit·tle-tat·tled, tit·tle-tat·tling.

1. to gossip or chatter.

tittle-tattle

noun

1. idle chat or gossip

verb

1. intr to chatter or gossip

Derived Forms

• ˈtittle-ˌtattler, noun

Other Words From

• tittle-tattler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tittle-tattle¹

First recorded in 1520–30; gradational compound based on tittle to whisper, gossip

Example Sentences

Mustique is famous for the omertà that ensures that very little celebrity tittle-tattle ever makes it off the island.

From The Daily Beast

The story is just “tittle-tattle” and it will all “blow over,” he told the BBC.

From The Daily Beast

Mustique is also famous for the omertà that ensures that very little celebrity tittle-tattle ever makes it off the island.

From The Daily Beast

You recollect that you promised to obtain something—a little tittle-tattle—concerning a lady.

From Project Gutenberg

Cermigniani and Melillo were listening to the brilliant tittle-tattle of Bencini, with his cackling speech and his dry laugh.

From Project Gutenberg

The writer observed that he was not anxious about H. Greville who loved tittle-tattle, and would get what he wanted there.

From Project Gutenberg

Looking down the table I told myself that it must be the very home of idle gossip and the hot-bed of tittle-tattle.

From Project Gutenberg

Tittle-Tattle—a magnificent title; the very thing to catch the multitude.'

From Project Gutenberg