[f. as prec. + -ING2.]
1. Making imperfect efforts at speech.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 187/1. The Papists will pray in a mumbling and babling sort.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, III. 85. The babbling cry of childhood.
2. Chattering, prating, foolishly talkative.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 100. To babelinde, and to spekefule ancren.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., IV. ii. 150. A long tongu’d babling Gossip.
1735. Pope, Prol. Sat., 304. Such babbling blockheads.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), II. III. v. 71. His degradation was concealed from a babbling and censorious world.
3. transf. Cf. BABBLE v. 4.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., II. iii. 17. The babling Eccho mock’s the Hounds.
a. 1610. Fletcher, Faithf. Sheph., III. i. Here never durst the babling Cuckow spit.
1735. Somerville, Chase, I. 281. A lagging Line Of babling Curs.
1814. Wordsw., Wh. Doe, III. 257. The scorn Of babbling winds.
