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tat·tle

(tătl)

v. tat·tled, tat·tling, tat·tles

v.intr.

1. To reveal the plans or activities of another, especially ones that are secret or improper: tattled on his sister when she snuck out; tattled to his parents about what his sister did.

2. To chatter; prate.

v.tr.

To reveal (something about someone) to another, as through gossiping.

1. Idle talk; chatter; prattle.

2. A tattletale.

[Middle English tatelen, to stammer, probably from Middle Dutch, of imitative origin.]

tattling·ly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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