drivel

Etymology

From Old English dravelen, drabelen, drevelen, drivelen, to slaver.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɹɪv.əl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪvəl

Noun

drivel (countable and uncountable, plural drivels)

1. senseless talk; nonsense
2. saliva, drool
3. (obsolete) A fool; an idiot.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Philip Sidney to this entry?)

4. (obsolete) A servant; a drudge.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Huloet to this entry?)

Verb

drivel (third-person singular simple present drivels, present participle (US) driveling or drivelling, simple past and past participle (US) driveled or drivelled)

1. To have saliva drip from the mouth; to drool.
2. To talk nonsense; to talk senselessly.
3. To be weak or foolish; to dote.
   • c. 1591–1595, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]:

     This drivelling love is like a great natural, that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Dryden to this entry?)

Anagrams

• drevil