[f. TATTLE v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb TATTLE.
† 1. Faltering, stammering; prattling; baby-talk.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxvii. (Arb.), 65. But who can gyue to his lesynge a conclusion, and prononce it without tatelyng [orig. ende seit sine woerden sonder tatelen].
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XVIII. xiv. He declares the tattling of his little grand-daughter, who is above a year and a half old, is sweeter music than the finest cry of dogs in England.
2. Idle talking; chattering, prating; gossiping; blabbing, tale-telling.
1547. in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), II. iv. 24. [Barlow, bishop of S. Davids … preached at court … urging … a redress of several abuses in religion…. The Bishop of Winchester … was mightily disturbed at it, calling it] his tattling.
1576. A. Fleming, trans. Ælianus, III. 38. His [Aristotle’s] vntimely tattling, wherein he passed the Parrat, the popingey, or the pie, discouered his cankard conditions & corrupt inclination.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. i. 26. Peace, your tatlings.
1673. Lady’s Call., I. i. § 12. When ’tis remembred that St. Paul makes tatling the effect of idleness.
a. 1693. Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. xiii. 106. The … tatling of Jackdaws,… kekling of Hens.
a. 1720. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. IV. 364. We do it in private to keep you from tattling.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Man of Many Fr. So that no discovery … might be made by any tattling amongst the servants.
