Where does “prittle-prattle” come from?
prittle-prattle (English) comes from English prattle, from English prate, from Middle English praten, from Old English prætt, from Proto-Germanic prattuz, from Proto-Indo-European brodnó- — to wander about.
prittle-prattle (English): empty talk; prattle
Ancestry of “prittle-prattle”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | prattle | To speak incessantly and in a childish manner; to... |
| 2 | English | prate | Talk to little purpose; trifling talk;... |
| 3 | Middle English | praten | — |
| 4 | Old English | prætt | trick, prank, practical joke |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | prattuz | boastful talk; deceit, trickery, stratagem, list,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | brodnó- | to wander about |