tattletale

tattletale
tattletale formed in English 1888 from TATTLE (Cf. tattle) + TALE (Cf. tale). Probably patterned on telltale (1540s). A 16c. word for “tattle-tale” was pickthank.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • tattletale — / tattler [n] person who gossips, tells rumors bigmouth*, blabberer, blabbermouth*, busybody, canary*, fat mouth*, fink*, gossip, informer, rat*, rumormonger, scandalmonger, snitch*, squealer*, stool pigeon*, talebearer, taleteller, telltale*,… …   New thesaurus

  • tattletale — ☆ tattletale [tat′ l tāl΄ ] n. an informer or talebearer: now chiefly a child s term …   English World dictionary

  • tattletale — /tat l tayl /, n. 1. a talebearer or informer, esp. among children. adj. 2. telltale; revealing: a tattletale smear of lipstick on his collar. [1885 90, Amer.; TATTLE + TALE] * * * …   Universalium

  • tattletale — tat•tle•tale [[t]ˈtæt lˌteɪl[/t]] n. 1) a talebearer or informer, esp. among children 2) telltale; revealing: tattletale crumbs[/ex] • Etymology: 1885–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • tattletale gray — noun a greyish white • Syn: ↑tattletale grey • Hypernyms: ↑gray, ↑grayness, ↑grey, ↑greyness * * * noun : a grayish white : off white …   Useful english dictionary

  • tattletale grey — noun a greyish white (Freq. 1) • Syn: ↑tattletale gray • Hypernyms: ↑gray, ↑grayness, ↑grey, ↑greyness …   Useful english dictionary

  • tattletale — noun Date: 1888 one that tattles ; informer …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tattletale — 1. adjective telltale, giveaway 2. noun a) One who tattles (reports others wrongdoings), often by a child seeking attention. b) One who gossips, often for the sake of attention. Syn: tattler …   Wiktionary

  • tattletale — Synonyms and related words: a tale bearing animal, betrayer, blab, blabber, blabberer, blabbermouth, busybody, delator, fink, gossip, gossip columnist, gossiper, gossipmonger, informer, narc, newsmonger, newspaperman, peacher, quidnunc, reporter …   Moby Thesaurus

  • tattletale — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. gossip, blabbermouth; informer, snitch. See loquacity, disclosure. II (Roget s IV) modif. Syn. gossipy, garrulous, revealing; see talkative . n. Syn. informer, talebearer, tattler, busybody,… …   English dictionary for students

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