Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “prating” come from?

Prating comes from Middle English praten, meaning to talk excessively or foolishly, though the ultimate origin remains uncertain.

prating (English): present participle of prate; foolish chatter

Definitions

  1. present participle of prate; foolish chatter

Ancestry of “prating”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishprateTalk to little purpose; trifling talk;...
2Middle Englishpraten—
3Old Englishprætttrick, prank, practical joke
4Proto-Germanicprattuzboastful talk; deceit, trickery, stratagem, list,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbrodnó-to wander about

Words derived from “prating”

  • pratingly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European brodnó- →