Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “gabben” come from?

gabben (Middle English) comes from Old Norse gabba, from Proto-Germanic gabbaną, from Proto-Indo-European ghabh- — to be split, be forked, gape; seize, take, hold,...

gabben (Middle English): to drink greedily

Definitions

  1. to drink greedily

Ancestry of “gabben”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsegabbato mock, to make game of
2Proto-Germanicgabbanąto mock, jest
3Proto-Indo-Europeanghabh-to be split, be forked, gape; seize, take, hold,...

Words derived from “gabben”

  • gobble
  • gab
  • gabble
  • gob
  • gobbler
  • gabby
  • gobshite
  • gabbler
  • gabfest
  • gabber
  • gobby
  • gobstopper
  • gobsmacking
  • bafflegab
  • gobbly
  • gobful
  • gabbiness
  • gobsmackingly
  • gobstruck
  • gobline
  • gabberhouse
  • gobblesome
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ghabh- →