Where does “chatter” come from?

Chatter is an English word of uncertain origin, possibly derived from or related to the English word chat through reduplication or imitative formation.

chatter (English): Talk, especially meaningless or unimportant talk;...

Definitions

  1. Talk, especially meaningless or unimportant talk;...

Ancestry of “chatter”, step by step

chatter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English chat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishchatTo be engaged in informal conversation; To talk...
2Englishchaatany savory snack, sold from a roadside stall in...
3Hindiचाटchaat
4Hindiचाटनाto lick; to eat with appetite
5Maharastri Prakrit𑀘𑀝𑁆𑀝𑁂𑀇to lick

via Middle English chateren

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishchateren—
2Middle Englishcheteren—

Words derived from “chatter”

Every word from Maharastri Prakrit 𑀘𑀝𑁆𑀝𑁂𑀇 →Every word from Hindi चाटना →Every word from Hindi चाट →