Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “flibbertigibbet” come from?

flibbertigibbet (English) comes from English flibbergib, from Old Norse fleipra-geipa(re) — babbler of nonsense.

flibbertigibbet (English): An offbeat, skittish person; especially said of a...

Definitions

  1. An offbeat, skittish person; especially said of a...

Ancestry of “flibbertigibbet”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishflibbergibA sycophant
2Old Norsefleipra-geipa(re)babbler of nonsense

Words derived from “flibbertigibbet”

  • flibbertigibbety
Every word from Old Norse fleipra-geipa(re) →