Also 6–8 babler. [f. BABBLE v. + -ER1. Cf. babelard.]
1. A foolish or idle talker, chatterer, prater.
1530. Palsgr., 196/1. Babler, babillart.
1535. Coverdale, Eccles. x. 11. A babler of his tonge.
1693. Evelyn, De la Quint. Compl. Gard., I. 13. I do not like a great Babler, who talks of nothing but his Skill.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 502. Babbler of ancient fables.
1860. Kingsley, Misc., II. 162. Englishmen are no babblers; they are a dumb, dogged people.
2. One who tells too freely what he knows; a prating gossip, a teller of secrets.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Babillard, a babler … a tittle tattle.
1625. Bacon, Ess. (1874), 19. For who will open himselfe to a Blab or a Babler?
1781. Cowper, Friendship, xvii. Aspersion is the babbler’s trade, To listen is to lend him aid.
1822. Byron, Werner, V. i. We must have no third babblers thrust between us.
3. A hound that gives tongue too freely.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., Wks. 1732, I. 169. You shall often see among the Dogs a loud Babler, with a bad Nose, lead the unskilful.
1735. Somerville, Chase, IV. 66. The vain Babbler shun, Ever loquacious, ever in the wrong.
4. Name given, on account of their harsh chattering note, to the Long-legged Thrushes.
1839. Penny Cycl., s.v. Merulidæ, Subfamily Crateropodinæ, Babblers. Legs remarkably long and strong, with the claws but slightly curved.
1873. Tristram, Moab, xiii. 250. The bulbul, the bush babbler, the Moabite sparrow.
