different between blabbermouth vs blab

English

Etymology

blabber +? mouth

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?blæb.?(?)?ma??/

Noun

blabbermouth (plural blabbermouths)

1. (informal) A gossip.

   If it weren't for that blabbermouth Sally, the principal would never have known we did it.

2. (informal) A person who talks excessively.

   Synonym: chatterbox

3. (aviation) A kind of foam-dispensing nozzle used in firefighting at airports.
   • 1964, Civic Administration (volume 16, page 9)

     Two handlines are capable of 240 gpm and an undertruck "blabbermouth" nozzle can sweep the ground ahead at 240 gpm.

   • 1972, ICAO Bulletin (volume 27, page x)

     The monitor is fitted with a blabbermouth (variable nozzle) to enable jet-spray patterns to be obtained at will.

   • 1983, David F. Rider, Jane's Airport Equipment (page 210)

     A manually operated monitor is provided complete with blabbermouth to deliver foam solution at a rate of 2(KX) lures a minute at 10-5 bar, to a maximum jet range of 46 metres […]

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English blabben (“to talk foolishly”), perhaps from Middle English blabbe (“idle talk; talebearer”). Compare Middle English blaberen (“to blabber, babble”), Middle High German blabezen (“to stammer, babble”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /blæb/
• Rhymes: -æb

Verb

blab (third-person singular simple present blabs, present participle blabbing, simple past and past participle blabbed)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion.

   • And yonder a vile physician blabbing / The case of his patient.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:prattle

Translations

Noun

blab (countable and uncountable, plural blabs)

1. (countable) One who blabs; a babbler; a telltale; a gossip or gossiper.
2. (uncountable) Gossip; prattle.
   • 1976, David Toulmin, Blown Seed (page 148)

     Audie never liked him because he was further in with old Craig than he was, bragging and blowing about his work and the things he could do, while Audie sat quiet as a mouse listening to his blab.

Synonyms

• (one who blabs): See also Thesaurus:chatterbox or Thesaurus:gossiper
• (gossip, prattle): See also Thesaurus:chatter or Thesaurus:gossip

Translations

Related terms

• blabber
• blabbermouth
• blabby
• blubber